The Forestry Commission (FC) has arrested 11 suspected illegal miners, comprising eight Ghanaians and three Chinese nationals, in a joint anti-galamsey operation conducted at dawn on Sunday, December 14, 2025.
The operation was carried out by a 28-member team drawn from three Rapid Response Teams, with support from officers of the Oda Forest District of the Forest Services Division.
The Commission said the arrests were made in Compartment 70 of the Pra Anum Forest Reserve at Banka, within the Oda Forest District of the Eastern Region.
The eight Ghanaian suspects were identified as Mohammed Mustapha, 25; Aminu Moro, 48; Owusu Emmanuel, 28; Raymond Opoku Agyemang, 32; Teye Joseph, 32; Oduro Emmanuel, 29; Aaron Oppong Gyebi, 36; and Isaac Apana, 32.
The three Chinese nationals arrested are Jun Hunay, 42; Wen Yong Feng, 49; and Lu Zheng Zhan, 37.
According to the Forestry Commission, all 11 suspects have been handed over to the Asante Akim Juaso District Police Command to assist with investigations and possible prosecution.
The operation also led to the seizure of two pickup vehicles, a Toyota with registration number GW 4974-23 and a Great Wall vehicle with registration number GT 4189-25, as well as eight excavators and one automatic pump-action gun.
The Commission said the seized vehicles have been sent to the Oda Forest District Office for safekeeping, while it reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to curb illegal mining activities in forest reserves across the country.