Three Chinese nationals and two Sierra Leoneans were among six people arrested this morning in a joint operation targeting suspected illegal mining near Bassaia Village in Dansogoaia Chiefdom, Tonkolili District.
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Sierra Leone, working with the Sierra Leone Police, raided three separate mining sites in the area. The nationality of the sixth person remains unconfirmed.
Officials say the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws and stop mining activities believed to be operating without the required permits or outside the legal framework.
No charges have been confirmed and none of the six have been convicted. Investigators will now examine whether the operators held valid environmental approvals and whether the activities at the sites were lawful.
The arrests come as the EPA continues to step up monitoring in the mining sector amid persistent concerns over land degradation, water pollution, deforestation and damage to farmland linked to unregulated operations.
Mining plays an important role in Sierra Leone’s economy, but authorities repeatedly stress the need to protect natural resources and community livelihoods.
Yesterday’s action in Tonkolili highlights the Agency’s focus on field enforcement and closer collaboration with the police, particularly in remote areas where oversight remains challenging.
The EPA is expected to maintain pressure across the country to ensure mineral resources are extracted responsibly and in line with environmental standards.
