Five galamsey operators are said to have been arrested in a military operation at various galamsey sites in the Eastern region. This follows recommendations made by the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council advocating stiffer punishment for illegal mining operators. The Municipal Chief Executive of East Akyem, Peter Simone Asirifi said five persons have been arrested while some equipment used by the operators have been confiscated. He was not convinced the confiscation will actually end the galamsey operation in the country. Meanwhile residents of Akyem Oda in the Eastern region are threatening to take the law into their own hands if government fails to clamp down on the activities of galamsey operators. The residents say they are worried about the situation in Asiakwa where deep pits had been left on people's farms by the illegal miners. Not only that, the source of the Birim River has also been polluted to the extent that the Ghana Water Company had to shut down its treatment plant.