The Western Regional Forestry Office, in collaboration with the Takoradi District Office of the Forestry Commission, has successfully thwarted a fresh armed invasion at the Subri River Forest Reserve, located in the Western Region.

This operation, led by a combined team of five rapid response units, resulted in the arrest of four heavily armed men who were providing security for illegal miners operating within the reserve.

The men, who had reportedly besieged the Jerusalem and Wassa Nkran sections of the Subri River Forest Reserve, were found to be in the process of constructing makeshift structures and preparing to launch destructive activities within a significant portion of the reserve.

In the course of the operation, the rapid response team seized four pump-action guns and completely immobilised one excavator that was found operating illegally within the forest.

The Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Nana Poku Bosompim, spoke to Erastus Asare Donkor about the operation, detailing the challenges faced by the response teams on the ground.

According to Bosompim, a team from Takoradi had been initially dispatched to confront the armed invaders, but they were quickly outnumbered by the illegal miners’ security personnel.

This prompted the urgent need for reinforcements, which ultimately led to the overpowering of the perpetrators and the successful arrest of the individuals involved.