Operation HARPIE

Operation HARPIE is a major interdepartmental military and police operation launched in February 2008 in French Guiana to combat illegal gold mining (orpaillage) and its devastating environmental and social impacts. Building on the previous Operation Anaconda, it involves a permanent deployment of approximately 500 to 1,000 personnel, including members of the French Armed Forces in Guiana (FAG) and the National Gendarmerie. The missions primary goals are to dismantle illegal mining sites, intercept logistical supply chains, and protect the territorys sovereignty and biodiversity from garimpeiros—clandestine miners who often use toxic mercury that poisons local ecosystems and fish.

The operation utilizes a wide range of specialized units, including the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI) based in Kourou and the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment (9e RIMa) in Cayenne. These are supported by rotating units like the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and elite gendarmerie detachments from the GIGN. Operations are conducted deep within the Amazonian rainforest, particularly in remote basins like Saül, Camopi, and Dorlin, and along major river networks that serve as the main logistical arteries for the illegal miners. Air support from the Base Aérienne 367, utilizing Puma and Fennec helicopters, is critical for deploying troops and evacuating seized heavy machinery from these inaccessible areas.

Since its inception, Operation HARPIE has resulted in the destruction of thousands of illegal camps (carbets) and the seizure of massive quantities of materials, including mercury, gold, engines, and fuel. In 2025 alone, the operation inflicted an estimated 148 million euros in financial damage to illegal mining networks. Despite these successes, the mission remains high-risk and has cost the lives of several French service members in confrontations and accidents within the green hell of the jungle. The ongoing nature of the mission highlights the difficulty of eridicating illegal mining in a vast, dense territory where networks quickly adapt to military pressure.