The Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi, has disclosed that more than 500 excavators have been seized since January this year.

Speaking to Myjoyonline on the fight against the menace, she explained that the seized machines are being held at secure locations, including regional police commands and military barracks, depending on where they were confiscated. "Look, over 500 excavators have been seized."

"We have them all over, some of them are with the police, some of them are in the regions, some are in the barracks, depending on where we seized them," she added.

Ms Mawusi stressed that the ministry has put in place tracking devices on the excavators to ensure their locations are monitored and safeguarded.

"We have put this tracking devices on them. If anybody move any of them we will be able to know that these excavators are moved," she said.

"As far as we are concerned or as far as we know, all the excavators that have been seized are still intact," she emphasised.

According to her, the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) led to a significant fight against the menace.