The Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission conducted an operation on Wednesday, 29th November, 2023 in the Anwiaso East Forest Reserve, at Manse, near Diaso in the Bibiani Forest District in the Western North Region.

The operation was to flush out illegal miners who had entered the reserve with heavy machinery and were destroying the forest cover and polluting water bodies with their illegal mining operations, which are believed to be backed by some political authorities in the district.

The Armed Unit of the Commission swooped in on the miners in a surprise move, arresting 10 of them.

The team completely destroyed two excavators and two heavy-duty electrical plants found at the illegal mining site.

The suspects were sent to the Dunkwa Police Station for security reasons. They will be transported later to the appropriate police jurisdiction in the Western North Region to face the full rigors of the law.

The Coordinator of the Rapid Response Unit at the Forestry Commission Headquarters, Samuel Darko- Akonor, has issued a strong warning to all such perpetrators to put a stop to such criminal activities, adding the unit is ever prepared to carry the fight to them in order to save the forest and water bodies.