In a significant crackdown on illegal quarrying, a multi-million dollar operation in Manuel Congo, Guanapo, was halted on October 9 by a strategic police intervention. The operation, which had been ongoing for months, involved the unauthorized extraction of minerals from state lands, causing extensive environmental damage. The quarry operator, who had previously resumed activities despite an earlier shutdown in July, was arrested along with 18 employees. Charges were filed on October 11 for processing minerals without a license. The illegal site featured advanced equipment, including conveyor belts, rock-crushing machinery, and a fully air-conditioned concrete building. The police are now investigating the operator’s real estate portfolio, suspected to have been funded by the illicit profits. The operation not only stripped valuable resources but also devastated a pristine forest and endangered local wildlife. Legal quarrying requires licenses, royalty payments, and site rehabilitation bonds, but the absence of national remediation efforts has left small organizations to address the environmental fallout. Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro’s decisive action signals a commitment to protecting Trinidad and Tobago’s natural heritage. However, without stricter legal consequences, illegal quarrying will continue to exploit state lands, highlighting the need for robust enforcement and judicial follow-up.