Kono District, 1st July, 2026 — Sierra Leone’s Commissioner of Labour and his enforcement team have intercepted more than ten Chinese nationals at the Mambudu Checkpoint in Kono District during a nationwide compliance drive to enforce the Unified Work and Residence Permit regime.
The foreign nationals were reportedly en route to Kumaroh Village to engage in gold and diamond mining activities without regularizing their immigration and employment status, as required by Sierra Leonean law. They have since been handed over to the Sierra Leone Police Headquarters in Koidu for further investigation and possible legal action.
The interception underscores the government’s intensified efforts to ensure that all foreign nationals living and working in Sierra Leone comply with labour and immigration regulations. The Commissioner of Labour emphasized that “it is no longer business as usual” for foreigners to enter, reside, or work in the country without the required permits. He described the enforcement drive as critical to protecting national security, promoting lawful employment, and safeguarding Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
Authorities say the crackdown will continue across the country as part of broader measures to strengthen compliance and accountability in the labour and immigration sectors.
