Thirteen individuals have been arrested and 13 excavators seized following a special anti-galamsey operation carried out by the Ghana Police Service at Aboifie, a suburb of Samreboï in the Western Region on April 21, 2025.

The operation, conducted as a follow-up based on credible intelligence, forms part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the area.

During a swift search of the seized equipment, security personnel discovered two pump-action shotguns and one single-barrel gun hidden inside the excavators.

Investigations are currently ongoing, and the suspects are in police custody assisting with further inquiries. Authorities say the operation signals their continued resolve to protect Ghana's natural resources and enforce laws against illegal mining.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the excavators were actively operating within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve — a protected area that had been raided just a day earlier as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining.

The suspects are currently in police custody, assisting with further investigations. Additional arrests and equipment seizures may follow as operations continue in the region.