EXPLOITATION ILLICITE DES RESSOURCES MINIÈRES À KÉDOUGOU : 699 individus, dont 415 étrangers, interpellés par la gendarmerie
The Kédougou gendarmerie legion carried out a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining between December 8 and 13, 2025. This major offensive aimed to combat the illegal exploitation of mineral resources and to strengthen the security of people and their property in the region, Colonel Ibrahima Ndiaye told Seneweb.
The gendarmerie forces conducted intensive security patrols, dismantled fourteen illegal gold mining sites, and carried out area checks in and around the town of Bembou. Cleanup operations were also conducted to eradicate illegal activities.
An impressive quantity of prohibited equipment and products was seized. The police recovered a ton of cyanide distributed in 20 fifty-kilogram bags, 13 twenty-five-kilogram bags of activated carbon, and 380 sticks of explosives. These dangerous chemicals are used illegally in gold mining.
The seized mining equipment included 135 generators, 19 water pumps, 66 jackhammers, six chainsaws, and a gold detector. Law enforcement also confiscated a molding machine, seven spitting machines along with 13 additional heads, an R210 spitting engine, and a set of spitting teeth. Four rock crushers were rendered unusable on site.
Fourteen gold-bearing sand sieving benches, a sieving mat, five rolls of water drainage pipe, and four rolls of rope used for ore removal and processing were also seized. The gendarmes also recovered eleven bags of gold-bearing pebbles. In addition, 124 20-liter jerrycans of gasoline, nine jerrycans of diesel lubricating oil, a batch of 190g Champion gas cylinders, four solar panels, and two solar batteries were also seized. A kata-kata (a type of cart) carrying 18 wooden planks was among the items found.
Regarding illicit and prohibited products, the police seized 125g of Indian hemp, 10 boxes of Tramadol 200mg tablets, a large quantity of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, as well as three boxes of coconut charcoal.
Law enforcement conducted rigorous checks on 342 motorcycles and 229 vehicles circulating in the area. They seized 122 other motorcycles and five tricycles involved in illegal activities.
Beyond the illegal mining operations, the gendarmerie dismantled the underground economy that revolves around these illegal sites. Ten clandestine bars and an illegal gambling den were shut down. Three slot machines and eleven PlayStation consoles were confiscated. The gendarmes also seized five amplifiers, a 12V-200Ah battery, three sound systems, and a makeshift tent that was burned on site.
For the transport of equipment, three cartons of injectors and three cartons of iron discs were seized.
699 arrests, including 415 foreign nationals
The operation resulted in the arrest of 699 individuals, including 415 foreign nationals. They were arrested for lack of identity documents, for identification purposes, and for various offenses related to illegal mining.
The National Gendarmerie is calling on the public to actively contribute to the fight against illegal gold mining. Any useful information can be reported free of charge to the call center by dialing the toll-free numbers 123 or 800 00 20 20.
This large-scale operation demonstrates the determination of the Senegalese authorities to eradicate the illegal exploitation of mineral resources and to restore order in the gold-mining areas of Kédougou.
Commentaires (11)
Les ressources aurifères appartiennent aussi aux générations futures et l’etat doit faire tout pour que la transformation et commercialisation se fassent sur le territoire national et que la gérance soit cristalline et transparente. Les grandes compagnies voleurs et irresponsables nous en voulons pas…
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