The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Sierra Leone has destroyed twenty-two dredges and apprehended five illegal miners in a major crackdown on illegal dredge mining activities in the Bo, Kenema, and Kailahun districts.
The joint operation, aimed at curbing illegal mining and preventing water pollution in the Moa and Sewa Rivers, was conducted by the EPA’s regional offices in the South and East of the country.
In a statement, the EPA emphasized the seriousness of the issue, noting that “illegal mining in our rivers and bodies of water has resulted in pollution from the use of harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which has increased turbidity in water bodies and poses hazards to human health and aquatic ecosystems.”
The agency’s statement also detailed the scope of the operation, which took place in several villages across the affected districts. “The operation resulted in the destruction of twenty-two dredges in Laah village in Mando Chiefdom, Kamao village in Upper Bambara Chiefdom, Sansahun village in Njaluahun Chiefdom (all in Kailahun District), Sembehun Nagbena village, Kandu Lekpeama Chiefdom in Kenema District, Boama Station, and Gadema in Bo District,” the statement read.
The crackdown was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Office of National Security (ONS), and the media. According to the EPA, this cooperation was crucial in ensuring the success of the operation.
The five illegal miners who were arrested during the operation were found to be operating without a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license, as required by Section 24(1) of the EPA Act of 2022. They have been handed over to regional police for further investigation.
The EPA clarified that “the EPA does not provide EIA licenses for mining in any water body.”
Looking ahead, the EPA has pledged to continue working with relevant authorities and Chiefdom Environmental Enforcement Committees (CEECom) to combat illegal dredge mining and protect the country’s water bodies.
“The EPA is working with the relevant authorities and the respective Chiefdom Environmental Enforcement Committees to ensure that we collectively combat illegal dredge mining in our water bodies and prevent practices that undermine biodiversity conservation and other environmental goals,” the statement concluded.
