NAIMOS arrests foreigners, seizes excavators in galamsey raid

In a major breakthrough, the National Anti‑Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) arrested six Chinese nationals and two Ghanaian collaborators on Sunday, 7 December, after a 40‑member task force dismantled a large‑scale galamsey site along the Nukura Stream at Asuom in the Kwaebibirem District, Eastern Region.

The operation, which began at about 09:00 GMT, saw officers seize five excavators, a sixth on a low‑bed truck, five pickup vehicles and twenty containers of fuel. The foreign suspects, aged between 28 and 58, were taken under heavy security to Accra for further investigation.

According to NAIMOS spokesperson Mr Samuel Osei, “The illegal mining crew was supervised by foreign operators and was actively extracting from the stream without resistance. We acted swiftly to prevent further environmental damage.”

NAIMOS technicians immobilised five excavators by removing critical components and destroyed makeshift camps and processing sheds, rendering the area uninhabitable for immediate re‑occupation. Preliminary assessments indicate that more than fifty acres of once‑productive farmland have been severely degraded, with deep pits and polluted soils.

Intelligence gathered by the secretariat suggests that other illegal operators along the Birim and Ayensu rivers have fled their sites following news of the crackdown.

“Our message is clear: foreign involvement and local collaborators in galamsey will face sustained and intensified enforcement,” Osei added. “We remain committed to protecting Ghana’s rivers, forests and farmlands.”

The operation underscores NAIMOS’s dedication to enforcing environmental laws despite difficult terrain and long operational hours. Authorities will continue monitoring the affected waterways and are expected to release further updates as investigations progress.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE