NAIMOS has delivered a decisive blow to illegal mining activities in the Western North Region, successfully dismantling a foreign-led galamsey network operating perilously close to the Bia River in the Suaman Dadieso District.
A 31-member task force deployed to the Kwabena Lantey and Suibo zones late Saturday morning, working relentlessly into the night. Within minutes of entering the forest, officers uncovered a substantial illegal mining site cleverly concealed near the riverbank.
Evidence indicated that the operators may have been alerted ahead of the operation. Several excavators were discovered hidden in the bush with their control boards deliberately removed in an attempt to avoid seizure. The close proximity of the mining activities to the Bia River also revealed alarming environmental damage, with polluted runoff already posing a threat to nearby communities.
At a location known locally as Niger, the operation took an unexpected turn when officers recovered an abandoned mobile phone dropped by a fleeing suspect. The unlocked device contained WhatsApp messages linked to a contact saved as “Boss Lii,” suggesting that the activities were being coordinated by foreign nationals.
Acting on this intelligence, NAIMOS operatives swiftly apprehended nine (9) Chinese nationals. They were escorted to multiple mining sites to confirm their involvement. Officers documented extensive environmental destruction and dismantled makeshift camps used for accommodation and gold processing. Several structures were destroyed to prevent their future use.
The task force also seized a number of items essential to the illegal operations, including:
• Two excavator filters
• One Tecno smartphone
• One water-pumping machine
• One mini car-washing machine repurposed for mineral processing
• A bottle containing mercury
• One motorbike used for movement between sites
Later that evening, a four-member team from the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) arrived to take custody of scrap metal and equipment remnants. The team, led by senior officer Hannah Arhin, continued the national scrap recovery initiative in collaboration with NAIMOS. They were escorted through the Suaman Dadieso District Assembly and onward to Asankragua.
All nine arrested foreign nationals were transported to NAIMOS Headquarters for formal investigations. The task force also made a report to the Dadieso Divisional Police Station, where police leadership assured that residences associated with the suspects would be secured pending further directives.
In a dramatic development, NAIMOS officers disclosed that an anonymous caller attempted to bribe the team with GH¢2.7 million to secure the release of the suspects. The team rejected the offer outright, reaffirming their commitment to integrity and the rule of law.
Despite the challenging terrain, long hours, and resistance from the illegal network, NAIMOS maintained complete operational control. The Director of Operations coordinated the mission remotely, providing real-time instructions to ensure strict compliance with national security protocols.
Saturday’s operation stands as a significant victory in the national fight against galamsey. It exposed a dangerous foreign-controlled mining syndicate, safeguarded a vital water body, and sent a strong message that environmental crimes will face firm and uncompromising enforcement.
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