Three suspected gold smugglers have been apprehended by the GoldBod Security Taskforce.

The individuals — Goutam Katriya, aged 35, Miraj Sarvaych, aged 22, and Manash Damani, aged 42 — are Indian nationals allegedly engaged in gold trading activities in Kumasi and Accra on behalf of Unique MM, a company reportedly owned by one Musah Salifu.

The suspects were arrested at a private residence near Atinga Junction in Kumasi, which had been converted into an illicit gold trading centre.

The arrest followed a tip-off from a patriotic whistle-blower who indicated that the suspects were purchasing gold at “black market” rates with the intention of smuggling it out of the country.

The three individuals were arraigned before the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, 28 April 2025, and subsequently remanded into custody for a two-week period.

At a press conference held in Accra, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, revealed that items retrieved from the suspects included GH¢1.9 million, 4,500 rupees, 4.363 kilograms of gold, two counting machines, a CCTV recorder, and an Indian passport.

Preliminary investigations by National Security indicate that none of the suspects possess valid licences to purchase or deal in gold within Ghana.

Despite operating in the gold trade for over a decade, the suspects were unable to produce any residence permits, work permits, or tax records pertaining to their business operations.

Investigators have also uncovered that Musah Salifu, a Ghanaian and purported sole shareholder of Unique MM, is allegedly acting as a front for Goutam Katriya, who is believed to be the actual beneficial owner and controlling figure behind the company.

Chief Superintendent Alhassan issued a stern warning to both Ghanaian citizens and foreign nationals against breaching the provisions of the Ghana Gold Board Act and other relevant laws governing gold trading in the country.

“This arrest marks only the beginning of GoldBod’s relentless campaign against illegal gold trading and smuggling. We have credible intelligence indicating that the suspects have been smuggling gold through unauthorised border points into India. This practice has severe implications for the Ghanaian economy. We are continuing to gather intelligence on several other illegal operators, and decisive action will follow shortly,” he stated.

The suspects will remain in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) until 12 May 2025, when they are due to reappear before the court.

In a related development, GoldBod has reiterated its directive requiring all foreign nationals engaged in the gold trade to exit the sector by 30 April 2025.

Furthermore, all gold transactions are to be conducted in Ghana cedis and at the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.

Failure to comply with these directives will constitute an offence under the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140), as stated in a press release issued by GoldBod on 23 April 2025.