A sweeping Interpol-led operation targeting illegal mining in West Africa has led to the arrest of 200 people and the seizure of substances worth $100,000.

An Interpol-led operation targeting illegal mining in Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Guinea and Senegal has led to the arrest of 200 people and seized chemicals, explosives, drugs and pain relief medication used by illegal miners.

Previously, where a country needed assistance from law enforcement in another jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute criminal offences, it