Authorities say two Chinese nationals have been arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal mining along the Subri River, where their activities had severely polluted water bodies and degraded surrounding lands.
The arrests were made around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, during a raid by a national anti-illegal mining task force at Subrisu in the Western Region. Officials said the suspects were caught actively mining with two excavators and other equipment along the riverbank.
According to the task force, operations at the site had caused extensive contamination of the Subri River and nearby tributaries, with visible environmental destruction across large portions of the landscape. The miners had reportedly constructed metallic gold-trapping platforms in the river and deployed heavy-duty machinery to intensify their operations.
During the raid, troops dismantled several of the metallic platforms and destroyed three large water-pumping machines used for the illegal mining activities. Excavators found at the site were immobilized to prevent further use.
The two arrested Chinese nationals were transported to Accra, where they were handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for further action, officials said.
The task force noted that the operation forms part of ongoing nationwide crackdowns aimed at curbing illegal mining and restoring environmental safety within affected communities. Further enforcement activities are expected as authorities intensify efforts to protect the country’s water bodies and farmlands from galamsey-linked destruction.