A NAIMOS taskforce deployed in the Eastern Region arrested two Chinese nationals, Li Yongjin and Nou Chin Haw, at Pankese in the Birim North District.

The arrest took place on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at approximately 9:45 a.m. due to their active engagement in illegal mining.

The illegal activities of the two foreign illegal miners have caused significant destruction of forests and cocoa farmlands in the area and severely polluted local streams, including the Birim River.

The taskforce immobilized two excavators used by the Chinese nationals by removing their monitors and control boards to render them inoperative, as lowbed towing services were not immediately available to the team.

The taskforce also destroyed several pieces of illegal mining equipment and installations and burned all makeshift structures erected at the site to facilitate the illegal mining operations.

Additionally, the team seized one Toyota Tundra pickup, with registration number AS 8120-20, which was found at the site and had been used by the two Chinese illegal miners.