The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested six Chinese nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities along the Nyaase River, a tributary of the Tano River, at Kunsu Gyaenkontabuo in the Ahafo Ano South-West District of the Ashanti Region.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out in the early hours of Saturday, April 18, 2026, marking what officials describe as one of the most significant crackdowns involving foreign nationals in recent times.
According to NAIMOS, the operation began around 8:20 a.m. when a special task force stormed the mining site and apprehended one suspect. Further intelligence led officers to a nearby residence, where five additional individuals believed to be part of the same network were arrested.
Weapons, cash and equipment seized
A search at the site and the suspects’ residence uncovered a cache of items linked to the illegal operation. These included two pump-action guns, 102 rounds of ammunition, mobile phones, passports, identification documents, and a Toyota Tacoma vehicle.
Authorities also retrieved GH¢60,000 in cash hidden in a black polythene bag.
Officials say the presence of weapons and large sums of money indicates that the operation extended beyond environmental degradation into organised criminal activity.
Environmental damage uncovered
The task force reported extensive destruction at the mining site, with degraded land and polluted river bodies highlighting the impact of illegal mining on the environment.
Several pieces of equipment, including excavators, washing boards, pumping machines and hoses, were either disabled or destroyed to prevent further use.
Suspects handed over for further action
All six suspects, along with the seized items, have been transferred to NAIMOS headquarters for further investigations and subsequently handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for appropriate legal action.
NAIMOS reiterated that Ghanaian law strictly prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in small-scale mining, particularly in protected water bodies and forest reserves.
The Secretariat assured the public that enforcement operations will continue across the country as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
