NAIMOS Taskforce Shuts Down Illegal Mining in Eastern Ghana: 5 Arrested, Excavators Disabled, Cash and Weapons Seized
Ghana’s National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) struck hard against galamsey today in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region. A team from Accra hit several hotspots starting at 6:05 a.m., leading to arrests, wrecked equipment, and grabs of cash and gear tied to the illegal digs.
First Hit at Pankese (8:20 a.m.):
The squad rolled into an active site near Pankese. Word spread fast—local motorbike riders tipped off the miners, so some bolted before the team arrived. Still, they nabbed one foreign mechanic and four Ghanaians caught red-handed. They found four excavators: two gutted of their control boards and monitors, and two fully working ones that got shut down on the spot. Also seized: one car wash machine and two buckets of hydraulic oil. All suspects went straight to New Abirem Police Station for grilling.
Next Stop: Anokye Site by Jaadie River (9:30 a.m.):
Pushing on, the taskforce hit another dig near the river. Eight excavators in total—four already stripped bare, the other four still running until the team disabled them. They scooped up the loose control boards and screens as proof for court.
Midday Showdown (12:15 p.m.):
Things got tense when three shady guys popped up, eyeing the team’s moves. Intel said they were scouts for a bigger crew plotting an ambush. The group scattered as NAIMOS closed in, but the three got pinched. A quick pat-down turned up one pepper spray, a metal chain, GHS 17,000 in cash, what looks like Indian hemp, and a bunch of phones. Cops are digging into who they were working for.
Final Check at Amenam (2:20 p.m.):
Later, the team swung by a concession run by Sikadwa Global Limited. Folks there said they were legit, escorting foreign workers with proper papers. Checks confirmed it, so NAIMOS pulled back around 4:20 p.m.—but not before grabbing two pump-action shotguns for a safety review.
This raid crippled galamsey ops in the area without a single injury or mess. Even with leaks from those bike messengers, the taskforce stayed cool and pro.
NAIMOS says the cash, guns, and machines show how slick these illegal rings are getting, but they’re not backing down. Their goal? Smash the crime webs, save forests and rivers from ruin, and keep Ghana’s mining clean and legal.
It’s a win for the environment and the law—proof NAIMOS is dead serious about guarding the nation’s treasures. More ops like this could turn the tide on galamsey’s damag
