The investigation into the gold mining that is plaguing the Guessabo and Zoukougbeu regions has just reached a decisive stage. Six months after the ringleader's arrest, his right-hand man is now behind bars.

The arrest of "Gautier": a major turning point

On Friday, April 24, 2026 , members of squadron 1/2 of the mobile gendarmerie in Daloa apprehended Gautier , considered to be the main accomplice of Daouda, alias "Le Gros" .

Wanted since 2023, Gautier was located in Zaïbo (Haut-Sassandra) before being transferred to Abidjan. According to investigators, he had been acting as interim manager and handling the finances of the illegal sites since his boss's imprisonment last October.

A reminder of the facts: the "Le Gros" system

1. Profile of the leader: Daouda, a notorious figure in the sector since 2014, is said to have built his fortune (including a complex in Guessabo) through illegal mining.
2. Charges retained: Illegal prospecting, extraction and marketing of precious metals.
3. Human tragedy: The two men are also cited in a death case that occurred at an illegal site in Nissoko.

A network accused of intimidation and vandalism

The dismantling of this duo has sparked a wave of relief among local populations, who describe a veritable system of predation:

1. Ecological disaster: Entire farmlands and plantations have been devastated without any compensation for the farmers.
2. Climate of terror: Testimonies report a violent group being used to intimidate the population and extort gold buyers.
3. Alleged corruption: In his defense, Daouda attempted to implicate gendarmerie officers, notably Commander Traoré. Authorities deemed these accusations "unreliable," noting that the suspect had fled to Soubré as soon as the net closed in on him.

Survey perspectives

With these two arrests, the economic and financial crimes unit in Abidjan now has all the elements needed to trace the network. The objective is twofold:

1. Identify any remaining possible accomplices.
2. To put a definitive end to the financial support of a network that has long prospered at the expense of regional security.

"They destroyed our crops... So far, nothing has been done." – A resident of Grégbeu, now hoping for redress.