NAIMOS Storms Amansie West, Arrests Chinese National and 7 Ghanaians Over Galamsey

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has stepped up its nationwide fight against illegal mining, arresting one Chinese national and seven Ghanaians during a special intelligence-led operation at Oseikokrom in the Amansie West District.

The Thursday, May 21 operation targeted an active illegal mining site where the suspects allegedly attempted to escape upon spotting the task force. However, officers swiftly intercepted and arrested them during the raid.

During the operation, the task force seized two Toyota Hilux pickup vehicles, two excavators and a pump-action gun believed to have been used at the illegal mining site.

According to NAIMOS, one of the excavators was transported to the Secretariat’s logistics holding centre in Kumasi, while the second machine was disabled at the site after officers removed its monitor and control board because it could not be moved due to an installed tracking device.

The task force also demolished several makeshift structures believed to have served as hideouts for the illegal miners.

The arrested suspects include 38-year-old Chinese national Huang Weiye and seven Ghanaian workers suspected to have been operating at the site.

Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Dominic Buah, said the Secretariat would continue to intensify what he described as “surgical raids” across illegal mining hotspots nationwide.

He noted that the ongoing operations are aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks blamed for the destruction of cocoa farms, forest reserves, roads and major water bodies across the country.

NAIMOS further disclosed that the Chinese suspect has been transferred to its headquarters for further investigations before being handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service.

The seven Ghanaian suspects have also been handed over to the Antoakrom Police Station to assist with investigations and possible prosecution.