A joint patrol by Guinea's National Brigade to combat wildlife and forestry crime, along with regional and prefectural units and protected area agents, conducted a 13th patrol operation from August 25 to September 3, 2026. The operation covered four regions, including the Badiar National Park and the future Pinselli-Soyah-Sabouyah National Park. A total of 48 agents participated, covering 340 kilometers over nearly 80 hours.
The patrol, which included agents from the Guinean National Parks and Wildlife Reserves Office, used a combination of motorbikes and on-foot movements to access hard-to-reach forest areas. The most significant result was achieved in the Pinselli-Soyah-Sabouyah Park, specifically in Mamou, where a stockpile of 280 double timber planks was discovered in the Ouré-Kaba sub-prefecture. The planks were made from three wood species: teak, melina, and vene.
The operation led to the arrest of three suspects in the Djandjan district forest, who were taken to Mamou for questioning by judicial police officers. They were formally charged and referred to the Mamou First Instance Court, where their case is ongoing. The suspects were found in possession of the timber planks, which were likely intended for illegal sale.
In addition to the Mamou operation, the patrol team discovered an active artisanal gold mining site in Marella, Faranah prefecture. The site had 19 motor pumps and a fully equipped camp, including mattresses, indicating a setup for large-scale mining. However, no arrests were made as the occupants were not present during the patrol.
The results of the operation demonstrate the effectiveness of Guinea's decentralized National Brigade units, supported by protected area managers, in simultaneously covering multiple regions and bringing cases to competent courts. The operation was part of a broader crackdown on illegal logging and wood trafficking.
The patrol operation was conducted under a national control system put in place following a July 7, 2026, communiqué by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. The ministry had suspended all wood cutting, import, and transport activities from July 8 to September 30, 2026, as a conservation measure.
The seized timber planks and motor pumps are significant evidence of the scale of illegal logging and mining activities in Guinea. The cases brought before the courts will help to combat these environmental crimes and promote sustainable management of natural resources in the country.
Key points
- The National Brigade seized 280 timber planks and apprehended three suspects in the Mamou region.
- An artisanal gold mining site with 19 motor pumps was discovered in Marella, Faranah prefecture.
- The operation was part of a broader effort to combat illegal logging and wood trafficking in Guinea.
