MONROVIA – The Ministry of Mines and Energy has announced the arrest of two persons who were allegedly carrying on illegal mining activities in Tuzon, Sinoe County.
It was a collaborative effort of the Liberia National Police, and Immigration Service (LIS) which saw the arrest of Jack Chen, a Chinese national, and a Ghanaian, Obed Burikoney, popularly called Kwemie.
According to the compliance enforcement team from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the two mem were spotted allegedly carrying out semi-mechanized mining operations using excavators, and causing environmental pollution, using a Class ‘C’ Mining License as their reliance.
“Such act is strictly against provisions of the Minerals and Mining Law of Liberia. Both suspects have been turned over to Liberia National Police Sinoe Country detachment office in Greenville City.” The statement said.
They will be further processed and brought before the investigative Board at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and later turned over to the Justice Ministry for prosecution having come in conflict with laws and regulations governing mining of minerals in Liberia.
The Mines and Energy compliance team also reached out to the Atlantic Mineral Company’s Heavy Mineral Sand (HMS) processing site in Morgan Community, Greenville, SInoe County.
“Its findings include the company operating without a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which should clearly state benefits for communities in its operations area.”
The Atlantic Mineral Company also has in its employ, citizens of Vietnam who do not have immigration documents. The team uncovered that the Atlantic Mineral Company in Sinoe County which has three (3) HMS plants, and with each containing several cyclones for processing, does not render any level of assistance to the community in which its site is situated.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye, has stressed that these compliance enforcements are intent on cleaning up the mining sector to rid the sector of unscrupulous individuals whose intention is to bypass lawful procedures and cause environmental degradation in communities across the Country, and refuse to pay revenue needed to support national development programs.
