By: Kabina Kabah
Monrovia – The Ministry of Mines and Engery says it has arrested five Chiinese nationals in connection to what the Ministry calls illicit mining in Rivercess County.
The arrest according to a statement was a joint operations of the Ministry of Mines and Energy and several state security agencies.
“The suspects were received by the Deputy Minister for Operations, William Hines, for turnover to the Justice Ministry to be prosecuted for violating the Minerals and Mining Law of Liberia.” The statement said.
Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye said, this is a routine compliance enforcement exercise fully funded by the Government of Liberia.
The Minister stated that similar exercise conducted in 2024 led to the arrest and indictment of illicit miners, who later admitted to wrongdoing and requested for an out-of-court settlement to pay hundreds of thousands of United States Dollars.
“The Chinese illicit miners were spotted on a mining site belonging to Class ‘B’ Mining Company – Devaco, but were seen in possession of identification cards of Hongtu Mining Company; another Class ‘B’ License holder.” The statement from the Ministry of Mines and Energy noted.
A compliance team from the Ministry of Mines and Energy carrying out enforcement operations in the Southeastern region, has also discovered that Devaco Mining Company which has allegedly defaulted on payment for renewal of its license from 2022 – 2024, carried out a unilateral transfer of its license to the Hongtu Mining Company.
The Ministry has issued a closure order on the company’s operations in Rivercess, while its mining equipment including a complete set of washing plant, and an excavator, among others, have been confiscated.
The Mines and Energy Ministry is continuing the compliance assessment activities in other parts of the Southeastern region to ensure miners adhere to the Minerals and Mining Law and Regulations.
It can be recall, recently the government of Liberia has shutdown Hongtu Mining Limited – a Chinese mining company and tuned over its authorities to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
The Chinese company stands accused of carrying on illegal/illicit mining in Mat House Town, Dweh Community, District #1 Grand Bassa County.
The decision of the government follows a Liberia Excellent News Network earlier report detailing findings of a civil society organization’s investigation which discovered the usage of life threatening chemicals including mercury and cyanide by Hongtu Mining Limited.
Hongtu Mining Company Limited, a prospecting license holder, was allegedly using heavy equipment and dangerous chemical substances such as mercury and cyanide, for its mining operations in the area.
