NAIMOS arrests 11 suspected illegal miners in Western, Eastern regions

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 11 suspected illegal miners during separate operations in the Western and Eastern Regions as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining in forest reserves and around water bodies.

The enforcement exercises, conducted on October 29, targeted mining sites at the Cape Three Points Forest in the Ahanta West Municipality, Abrokyire-Krobo in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, and the Apapam-Asikem area in the Abuakwa South Municipality.

The operations also resulted in the destruction of mining equipment and makeshift structures used by the suspected miners.

At the Cape Three Points Forest in Ahanta West, NAIMOS personnel arrested four suspected illegal miners after discovering mining activities at several locations within the forest.

At the first site, the task force destroyed four chanfang machines and seven water pumps. A subsequent patrol led the team to another mining location, but the operators had fled before the officers arrived.

Two excavators were found at the second site, although their monitors had been removed. The task force also destroyed three chanfang machines, four water pumps and four makeshift structures, while recovering a key component from one of the excavators.

In a separate operation at Abrokyire-Krobo in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, NAIMOS personnel raided an illegal mining site after the operators reportedly fled upon noticing the task force.

The exercise led to the destruction of five chanfang machines, five water pumps, seven generator plants and two makeshift structures. An additional chanfang machine and a water pump were recovered.

The team also detected indications that mining activities had resumed in some areas, raising concerns about the possible return of operators to sites previously cleared by enforcement teams.

The development, according to the report, underscores the need for continued surveillance to prevent illegal miners from reoccupying such locations.

Meanwhile, seven suspected illegal miners were arrested during an operation in the Apapam-Asikem area of the Abuakwa South Municipality in the Eastern Region.

The operation focused on illegal mining activities along the Birim River and its tributaries, as well as locations bordering the Atiwa Forest Reserve.

NAIMOS personnel destroyed two chanfang machines, three water pumps and three makeshift structures during the exercise.

The Secretariat noted that illegal miners often operate in remote and difficult-to-reach areas along water bodies in an attempt to evade enforcement teams.

NAIMOS said the coordinated operations form part of a broader strategy to intensify efforts against illegal mining across river systems, forest reserves, farms and other identified hotspots.

The Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting illegal mining activities, preventing the return of miners to cleared locations and protecting environmentally sensitive areas.

It warned that illegal mining would not be tolerated in forest reserves, remote communities or along river systems.

NAIMOS added that previously cleared sites would remain under surveillance, with enforcement teams prepared to return whenever mining activities resume.