High Stakes in Gold: Drones and Guns at Ghana's Mining Frontier

In the rising heat of a Ghanaian afternoon, Gold Fields' Tarkwa gold mine faces a new type of intruder from above. Operators deploy drones to patrol the skies, hunting for illegal miners, or 'wildcat' miners, who threaten the mining giant's profits and the environment.

With gold prices soaring above $3,300 per ounce, these illicit operations are booming, risking violent clashes between them and corporate mines. Companies now plead for government-military intervention as drones detect suspicious activities sprawling across 210 square kilometers.

As skirmishes peak, Gold Fields isn't alone. Other notable mines in West Africa suffer disruptions. In a region where three to five million people survive on illegal mining's economy, technological and military responses ramp up, urging urgent reform and sustainable solutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)