The Ivorian government has deployed an arsenal of 300 motorcycles, 30 pickup trucks, 12 Zodiac boats, and drones to bolster the Special Gold Panning Task Force (GS-LOI), established in 2021 to combat illegal mining across Ivory Coast.

Authorities emphasize enhanced mobility to conduct operations «on land and water», «day and night», aiming to improve surveillance and mapping of clandestine mining sites.

National security priority

Tackling illegal gold panning has become a «national security imperative», according to Fidèle Sarassoro, Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. The government recently passed a bill amending the Penal Code, introducing stricter penalties: fines ranging from 50 to 100 million West African CFA francs and jail terms from 2 to 5 years for offenders. Penalties escalate to 20 years imprisonment if public officials are involved.

The crackdown reflects Ivory Coast’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining, which has plagued the country’s gold-rich regions, disrupting ecosystems and fueling criminal networks.