The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has carried out an impressive operation in six endemic mining Regions in the country.

The operations were conducted from Monday 27th of July 2026 to Sunday 2nd August 2026 in Western North, Western, Ashanti, Ahafo, Savannah and Eastern Regions.

"During the reporting period, operations were concentrated along the Ankobra, Bia, Torya, Tano and Butre rivers in forest and riverine areas around Enchi, and at the reclaimed mining sites in the Desire Forest Reserve, the Birim River and the Tepa-Goaso District".

According to the NAIMOS Secretariat "Intelligence-led joint operations led to significant seizures of illegal miners’ operations logistics".

As part of the operations, on 29th of July 2026, NAIMOS arrested eight suspects at Sikaniasem.

They included Luo Xiaoqiang, 47 years; Fuxue Qiang, 48; two Chinese nationals and Lushao Adam, 29 years; Razak Alhassan, 24 years; Abdul Majeed Dauda, 26 years; Bilal Yakubu, 18 years; Mangel Yankey, 19 years and Iddrisu Alhassan, 26 years, all six being Ghanaians.

In the process, the troops seized one excavator, one Toyota Land Cruiser, one excavator monitor, one generator, three motorbikes, nine water pumps, and one single-barrel 12 gauge short gun.

The troops also destroyed 14 water pumps, seven chanfang machines, four generators and five makeshift structures used to support illegal mining activities.

"The Task Force conducted extensive reconnaissance at Dadieso, Sefwi Ahibenso, Sefwi Dwenase, Kramokrom, Adjakaa, KKB Village and surrounding cocoa farms, generating valuable intelligence on planned illegal mining activities.

These patrols confirmed evidence of prospecting and test excavations and identified potential financiers and collaborators supporting illegal mining operations.

However, community members were generally reluctant to provide information for fear of intimidation and reprisals by illegal miners, NAIMOS said in the weekly report

The operations carried out in the area also exposed financiers behind the destruction.

They included Nana Osei Bonsu, Ezana Kasei Awudu and Emmanuel Amoah.

In the Western Region, the Task Force stormed Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mpohor, Ellembelle on 29th July 2026 and arrested 19 Ghanaians as suspects and they were handed over to Esiama Police Station for further investigations.