The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has recorded what it says is another major victory in the national campaign against illegal mining following a successful operation at Abesua in the Ashanti Region that led to the arrest of 10 Chinese illegal miners and the seizure of a cache of weapons and mining equipment.

The intelligence-led operation, conducted on Friday, October 24, between 1030 and 1700 hours, was executed by a 55-member NAIMOS taskforce supported with six pickup trucks and two sprinter buses.

To ensure operational secrecy and avoid detection by local collaborators, the team disguised themselves in the sprinter buses before infiltrating the area.

At about 1220 hours, the taskforce apprehended 10 Chinese nationals engaged in destructive mining activities. Upon inspection, the team discovered that the illegal miners had devastated vast acres of land, leaving behind severe environmental damage.

The arrested suspects were immediately transported to Accra via a 2M Express bus under armed escort and handed over to NAIMOS Headquarters for further interrogation and investigation.

During the operation, the taskforce seized a significant quantity of items believed to have been used in illegal mining operations.

The items included: one pressure washing machine, a gas cylinder, one excavator battery, two gold scales, one dish warmer, nine buckets of grease oil, one fire extinguisher, one refrigerator, three motorbikes, two weapon bags, one Hilux pickup, one Land Cruiser Prado, 10 pump action guns with one-and-a-half boxes of cartridges, four control boards, four fuel tanks, GH¢4,600 cash, and 13 mobile phones belonging to the arrested Chinese nationals.

All the seized items have been secured in the custody of NAIMOS for detailed forensic examination and further criminal investigation.

Speaking after the operation, the Director of Operations at NAIMOS commended the professionalism, courage, and discipline exhibited by the officers during the mission.

He described the discovery of 10 pump action guns as a grave indication that some illegal mining activities have evolved into well-armed criminal enterprises that pose a threat to national security.

“This operation is yet another demonstration of NAIMOS’s unyielding commitment to dismantling illegal mining syndicates and protecting Ghana’s environment and natural resources,” he stated.

The Director further emphasised that NAIMOS remains resolute in its mission to ensure that both local and foreign perpetrators of illegal mining are held accountable under Ghanaian law.

“Illegal miners, regardless of their nationality, must understand that Ghana is not a lawless territory. We will continue to pursue, arrest, and prosecute anyone who destroys our land and water bodies,” he added.