Two Suspected Burkinabé Nationals Sent to Court As Manhunt Intensifies in Bong for Several Accomplices
May 7, 2025
By Matalay Kollie
Bong County, Liberia: The Division of Crime Services at the Liberia National Police’s Bong Detachment has forwarded two suspected Burkinabé nationals, Harouna Ouedalaogo, 44, and Barchezu Sone, 42, to the 9th Judicial Circuit Court.
They face charges stemming from their alleged connection to illicit mining activities in the county. The announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, following a significant operation conducted in Gballai’s Village, Zota Wolapolu, Bong County, on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
The arrests were prompted by information provided by Leo Doerue, an agent/geologist from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, who has been assigned to the Wainsue Mining District for seven months. During a guided tour of the region, police, along with county officials and joint security forces, discovered the Burkinabé nationals allegedly engaged in illegal mining.
The suspects were found in possession of various toxic chemicals and documents associated with additional Burkinabé individuals who reportedly fled the area upon law enforcement’s arrival. According to the police charge sheet, the suspects entered the region in December 2024. They claimed to have received authorization from the village chief, John Gballai, and the Mining Chairman, Paul Gballai, who are believed to be father and son. Ouedalaogo and Sone asserted that they were charged a fee of USD 1,000.00 to operate in the area from January to June 2025, which they reportedly paid without resistance.
In light of the defendant’s statements, law enforcement has expanded its search for accomplices, including John Gballai, Paul Gballai, and an individual named Hamilton Suahlou, who are suspected to be connected to the case. If apprehended, these individuals will undergo further investigation and may face charges in the same judicial proceedings at the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County. Currently, Ouedalaogo and Sone are charged with several offenses, including fraud on the Internal Revenue of Liberia (15.80), criminal conspiracy (10.4), and theft of property (15.51).
Both suspects are detained at the Gbarnga Central Prison, awaiting trial. The developments surrounding this case have ignited concern and unease among local citizens, raising questions about the transparency and integrity of law enforcement, particularly regarding the Liberia Immigration Services, which allegedly allowed the Burkinabé nationals’ entry into the country.
As the search and investigation continue, county leadership, under Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris, has urged collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and the Environmental Protection Agency to address these critical issues.
