The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested six Chinese nationals found actively engaged in illegal mining operations along the Nyaase River, a tributary of the Tano River, at Kunsu Gyaenkontabuo in the Ahafo Ano South-West District of the Ashanti Region.
The operation also led to the recovery of two pump action guns, 102 cartridges, a vehicle, and Gh¢6,000 in cash, making it one of the most significant single-operation arrests of foreign nationals in recent NAIMOS enforcement history.
At approximately 0820 hours on Saturday, April 18, the NAIMOS taskforce launched a surprise intelligence-led operation on the illegal mining site.
A Chinese national was initially apprehended at the site in the early hours of the morning.
The taskforce directed the suspect to lead them to his residence, a move that proved decisive, as the search that followed led to the arrest of the remaining five Chinese nationals, all involved in the illegal enterprise.
At the mining site, the taskforce observed that the illegal miners had devastated vast acres of land, causing severe environmental damage to an area whose rivers and soils form the backbone of local livelihoods.
Two excavator machines were immobilised through the removal of their control boards, monitors and hydraulic pumps, due to lack of lowbed services, rendering them inoperable.
A NAIMOS excavator operator was then deployed to physically dismantle a metallic gold washing platform on site.
A wooden gold washing platform, some makeshift structures, a heavy duty water pumping machine, Changfan machines, and several water hoses were destroyed by burning. One tricycle, locally known as an Aboboyaa, was also seized.
The search of the suspects’ residence produced findings that elevated the gravity of the operation considerably.
Two pump action guns and 102 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the premises, confirming that this was not merely an environmental offence but an armed criminal enterprise.
One Toyota Tacoma vehicle, assorted identification cards, passports and mobile phones were seized, along with GH¢60,000 recovered from a black polythene bag — a reflection of the scale of illicit proceeds being generated from the destruction of Ghana’s natural resources.
All arrested suspects and seized items have since been conveyed to NAIMOS Headquarters for further investigation.
The six Chinese nationals have also been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for the appropriate legal and regulatory action.
Under Ghana’s laws, small-scale mining is not for foreigners with specific reference to the Minerals and Mining Act.
“Those who do contrary are not merely breaking the law — they are committing acts of environmental aggression against a sovereign nation, armed and organised in their defiance of accountability,” NAIMOS said in its statement on Sunday.
“The discovery of weapons and ammunition at the residence of foreign illegal miners is a matter of grave national security concern, and NAIMOS treats it as such.
“The Secretariat will continue its nationwide surprise operations until that reality is felt in every illegal mining camp across the country. Ghana’s water bodies, forests and mineral resources belong to the people of Ghana — and they will be defended accordingly.”