In their droves, hundreds of Ivorian citizens ran from their abodes across the Liberian/Ivorian border when marauding so-called mercenaries who endeavored to seek the dethronement by way of gun of the government of Alhassan Quattarra ransacked villages and gunned down dozens of their compatriots under the cover of darkness in 2011.

Liberian security officers were somehow caught pants down in dealing with such sweltering influx which came at the time Liberians were in the process of re-rooting themselves following years of conflict that uprooted them from towns, villages, cities and helmets.

In the name of solidarity, humanity and regional cooperation, Liberian officials granted them an oasis under the refugees status, allowing them to settle in near and far towns in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties, the two counties that close to the border with Ivory Coast in the eastern and Western part of the country.

The situation in Ivory Coast for which they were uprooted has subsided to a larger extent, thus necessitating the repatriation of dozens of them, but those who have not seen the need to make it back across the border have turned to a new venture.

According to revelations made to The New Republic, dozens of Ivorian Refugees in Grand Gedeh County are currently grazing the soil for gold and other minerals, in a bid to consolidate their grip on Liberia, contributing to social and economic rejuvenation.

The Commander of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Border Patrol Unit in Grand Gedeh County informed this paper that several Ivorian refugees are currently involved in mining activities in the region.

Major Abu Jallah said a significant of about 431 refugees in Boe, the town bordering Liberia and the Ivory Coast which is several kilometers away from Zwedru, is involved in illicit mining, adding that the situation undermines the efficiency of the border patrol guards and also denies the government of needed revenue.

The BIN County Commander said women are also being specifically used in the process of transporting the minerals to Ivory Coast and Guinea, with the proceeds therefrom brought back in assorted goods and sold at high value.

He added that both the refugees and migrants roaming the southeastern region of the country have not only been drawn to illicit mining but also are involved in motorcycle transport business which is a contributing factor to cross border crimes.

Without a specific case or indicating any measures they have put in place to halt the situation, he said: "The Gleio-Tenpo, a gateway to Tai a provincial capital in the Ivory Coast is constantly used by criminal gangs to smuggle stolen motorcycles and other items of commercial value and because of the road condition we fall short to effect arrest."

Worst of all, the BIN officer said refugee motorcyclists have removed license plates issued them by authority for reasons best known to them, stressing that such action is undermining the bureau's monitoring operation in the county.

"Keeping refugees close to the border is a very serious issue which needs quick intervention in ensuring the smooth execution of "Operation Restore Hope proffered by the Bureau", Major Jallah noted.

When confronted to speak to the issue, the Deputy County Coordinator of the local motorcycle union office in Zwedru , Vleah A. Konneh acknowledged the allegation.

He said based on complaints filed in by local officials of the county, the Liberia Motorcycle Union Office earlier issued special license plates to the refugees' motorcyclists with an inscription: "refugee -bike-rider" (RBR), adding that these plates have since been removed from the bikes with no formal communication to the local authority.

For his part, the County Coordinator of the Liberia Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration Commission (LRRRC) Joseph Cooper said not all Liberians living in the county are refugees.

He maintained that of the 27,000 registered refugees in the region, considerable number of them lived on Solo and PTP camps.

An illicit gold miner in Zwedru who preferred anonymity said there are several refuges at various mines in the county, such as Dako Forest, Gbeayouba, Bandery, Bennel, Palm Hill and Papa Hill.