Thirteen individuals have been apprehended following operations targeting illegal gold mining activity in the Eastern region. Authorities successfully removed almost 200 kilograms of mercury – a substance highly sought after by clandestine gold prospectors – from circulation. The operations aimed to disrupt the illegal extraction of gold, a practice often involving dangerous substances like mercury. The use of mercury in artisanal gold mining poses significant health and environmental risks. Details surrounding the specific locations within the Eastern region where the seizures occurred remain limited. This seizure represents a crackdown on illegal mining practices, with ongoing investigations expected. The article initially appeared on a news platform, highlighting the continuing efforts to combat illegal resource extraction.