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By: Anthony Dahn

Twenty-eight individuals have been arrested by the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities at Camp America, a site situated within Sapo National Park in Sinoe County.

The arrests were made around 11:00 p.m. on Monday during a routine patrol aimed at securing the country’s largest remaining tropical rainforest. Military authorities say the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to prevent a resurgence of unlawful activities in the protected reserve.

First Sergeant Abraham Leaman disclosed on Tuesday that the suspects were apprehended by AFL personnel and subsequently turned over to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for administrative processing.

Providing further details, Sapo National Park’s Chief Park Warden, John G. Smith, commended the joint operation between park authorities and the military. He noted that the army has maintained a steady presence in the park since being deployed to remove illegal miners and unauthorized settlers from the conservation area.

According to Mr. Smith, the suspects are expected to be transferred to the Liberia National Police for investigation and possible prosecution under Liberia’s environmental protection laws.

The Government of Liberia, acting through the Ministry of National Defense, previously deployed troops to the Kojaryee-Wacaba District, one of the primary access points to the park, as part of a broader crackdown on illegal mining and encroachment.

While authorities recently declared the park largely free of unlawful occupants following the eviction of thousands of miners and settlers, the AFL has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security in the area to protect Liberia’s biodiversity and prevent future illegal operations.

PC: D3 Radio