NAIMOS Breaks Up Illegal Foreign Mining Network on Bia River

NAIMOS operatives delivered a decisive blow to illegal mining on December six, 2025, when a 31‑member task force moved into the Kwabena Lantey and Suibo zones of the Suaman Dadieso District in Western North, targeting a sprawling concession along the Bia River.

Officers uncovered a vast illegal mining concession hidden within dense vegetation close to the river. Evidence at the scene indicated that operators had been tipped off, prompting several excavators to be hurriedly concealed in the bush and their control boards removed. “We acted on credible intelligence and neutralised a major illegal mining operation,” Sergeant Kwame Mensah, NAIMOS spokesperson, said.

The proximity of the operation to the Bia River raised serious environmental concerns, with visible sediment and toxic discharge already degrading the water source that surrounding communities depend on.

Intelligence surfaced from an abandoned mobile phone left by a fleeing suspect in the Niger suburb of Dadieso. Using the unlocked device, NAIMOS traced WhatsApp communications to a contact saved as “Boss Lii”, pointing to direct coordination by foreign nationals.

Acting on the lead, the task force tracked and apprehended nine Chinese nationals, all male, and escorted them to multiple sites for on‑ground verification of their involvement.

At these locations, officers documented degraded sections of the Bia River and dismantled makeshift mining structures that had served as accommodation and processing shelters. Several of these structures were destroyed to prevent any attempt at reoccupation.

During the operation, NAIMOS seized two excavator filters, a Tecno smartphone, a water‑pumping machine, a mini car‑washing machine used for mineral processing, a bottle containing a small quantity of mercury, and a motorbike used to move between forested sites.

Later that evening, a four‑member team from the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) arrived, led by senior officer Hannah Arhin, to take custody of scrap metal and heavy‑equipment remnants. “Our partnership with NAIMOS ensures that scrap metal does not fall back into the hands of illicit operators,” she said. The team was escorted to the Suaman Dadieso District Assembly before proceeding inland to Asankragua as part of a national scrap recovery process.

The NAIMOS escort subsequently transported all nine detainees to its headquarters for formal investigation. A visit to the Dadieso Divisional Police Station saw Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwabena Owusu assure that residences linked to the suspects would be secured. “All properties linked to the suspects will be secured pending further investigations,” he said.

In a dramatic development, NAIMOS officers disclosed that an anonymous caller attempted to bribe the team with an offer of GH₵2.7 million for the release of the foreign nationals. The offer was immediately rejected, underscoring the strict discipline guiding the operation.

Despite exhausting conditions and extended hours, the task force maintained full operational control. Colonel Yaw Adjei, Director of Operations, issued real‑time directives remotely, ensuring compliance with national security priorities. “Any attempt to bribe our officers will be met with zero tolerance,” he affirmed.

The Western North operation marks another major victory for NAIMOS, exposing foreign‑coordinated illegal mining structures, protecting a critical water resource, and reinforcing that environmental crimes will be met with decisive, uncompromising enforcement.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE