Officers from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) have rounded up 19 suspected illegal miners during a raid in the Mpohor Fiase District of the Western Region.
The targeted operation took place on Wednesday, 29th July 2026, following mounting public outcry over brazen illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, taking place in close proximity to the community police station.
Local residents, affected farmers, and traditional leaders had repeatedly called on authorities to step in as illicit digging expanded across the area.
Ahead of the crackdown, members of the NAIMOS Task Force conducted intelligence-led reconnaissance of the terrain. Personnel swooped on two major illegal mining sites before sweeping through several smaller surrounding operations.
During the exercise, the task force destroyed 16 chanfang processing machines, nine water pumps, and three makeshift shelters used by the miners. An excavator discovered at one of the primary sites was immobilised after task force members removed critical operational components.
Security personnel also seized a pump-action shotgun along with four rounds of live ammunition from one of the suspects at the scene. In addition, officers recovered GH¢120,000 in cash from another individual arrested during the swoop.
All 19 suspects, along with the confiscated items and cash, remain in custody to assist with ongoing police investigations and subsequent legal proceedings.
Officials at NAIMOS have reaffirmed their determination to maintain continuous, intelligence-driven operations across the region to dismantle galamsey networks and safeguard local land and water resources.
The Secretariat urged the public to support ongoing anti-galamsey efforts by relaying actionable information to security agencies, while warning those involved in illegal mining to vacate the trade immediately.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana