Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) have embarked on a series of raids to clear the reckless illegal mining along the Kumasi - Sunyani Highway.

The raids on Saturday, January 17, commenced at about 0820 hrs, when the NAIMOS task force stormed illegal mining sites at the outskirts of the Ashanti Region before entering the Ahafo Region.

The anti-galamsey operations began from Bronikrom, close to Mankraso, where the task force cleared an illegal mining site just about 30 meters along the road between Bronikrom and Mankraso before reaching Adugyama.

The illegal miners who were actively engaged in the mining fled the scene upon sighting the NAIMOS taskforce and left behind an excavator and other items.

The taskforce subsequently immobilised the excavator by detaching its monitor, other vital parts and batteries. Following the raids, the taskforce proceeded to Kunsu in the Ahafo Ano South West district.

Early investigations revealed that the illegal miners at Kunsu had also absconded to escape arrest. Similarly, the task force flushed out the illegal miners and burned some items at the site.

The task force further immobilised an excavator, which had already been tampered with by the illegal miners; hence, it did not have any monitor or control board attached.

Based on intelligence, the NAIMOS taskforce thereafter proceeded to another illegal mining site at Adeji Mim, a suburb of Duayaw Nkwanta.

The task force arrived at an illegal mining site in this town and confirmed that the Tano River flows along the site. It was further observed that the illegal miners depended heavily on the River for their illegal mining activities, thereby causing severe pollution of the River.

The illegal miners had makeshift structures at the site, which served as hideouts for their activities. The taskforce completely burnt down the makeshift structures and a multipurpose heavy-duty water pumping machine.

Several items were burnt, including water hoses, makeshift structures, 1 Chanfang, 8 tricycles, 14 motors, 2 heavy duty grinder, 2 heavy-duty water pumping machines, and a metallic gold washing platform.

Other items seized included 2 excavator batteries, 1 drum of diesel fuel, 1 excavator monitor, 4 cartridges of pump action gun, a wooden gold washing platform, 5 water jumping machines and a box of assorted tools.

Commenting on the day’s raids, the Director of Operations for NAIMOS highlighted that the Taskforce will continue to operate in the Bono and Ahafo regions to ensure that the heavily polluted Tano River is brought back to its once pristine state.

He reiterated that efforts are being made to permanently position troops at strategic location on the enclave to ensure perpetual surveillance.