A joint team from the Kade Police and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwaebibirem, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, arrested three Chinese nationals last Saturday for allegedly polluting the Birim River at Akyem Abaam near Kade in the Eastern Region.

The three Chinese nationals, together with some Ghanaians, were engaged in illegal gold mining in the Birim River when the team swooped in. While the foreigners were apprehended, the locals, familiar with the terrain, managed to escape.

Briefing the media at Kade, Mr Nti said he was at a church service last Saturday when the Kade District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bernard Barlekor, informed him that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, was taking place in the Birim River at Abaam.

He said he immediately left the church service with his driver and joined the Kade Police to mount an operation at Abaam, where they found the illegal miners actively engaged in galamsey in the Birim River.

Mr Nti stated that on seeing the police, the illegal miners fled, but the team managed to arrest the three Chinese nationals.

He added that two excavators used by the galamsey operators were seized and deposited on the premises of the Kwaebibirem Municipal Assembly to serve as evidence in prosecuting the illegal miners.

Mr Nti said the three Chinese nationals had been handed over to National Security officials in the Eastern Region for further investigations and subsequent prosecution.

The MCE cautioned individuals engaged in illegal mining in the hinterlands of the municipality to desist from the act, warning that anyone arrested would be dealt with drastically.”