Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) foiled a bribery attempt by some individuals during an operation within the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
During Thursday’s operation, reports say some individuals arrived in two vehicles – a Toyota Tundra and a Ram pick-up – to offer the GH¢100,000 bribe as ‘chop money’.
They offered an additional GH¢20,000 after the initial resistance.
The individuals were said to have demanded the release of arrested suspects during the operation.
Three tactical teams were deployed across the forest to secure access routes and apprehend suspects.
Fifteen suspects were apprehended after admitting they had received advance warnings about the taskforce’s approach.
Some impostors, who claimed to be acting under the orders of a man identified as Major Jabari, were encountered in the forest reserve in khaki uniforms and claiming to be National Security operatives.
One pistol containing three rounds of ammunition, a toy pistol, a pump-action shotgun with three cartridges, two handcuffs, and eight pouches were found on them.
The items were seized for further investigation.