By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has apprehended 49 suspected illegal miners during a precision dawn swoop at Adiewoso in the Ahanta West Municipality, Western Region.
The operation was triggered by what NAIMOS described as a brazen armed ambush on its operatives by entrenched illegal mining syndicates.
According to the anti-galamsey task force, the tactical intervention was executed in the early hours of Thursday, April 30, targeting illicit mining incursions within the plantation of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL).
The Secretariat disclosed that the offensive was launched after its personnel stationed in Nzema East came under a hail of gunfire from armed elements engaged in illegal mining on the GREL concession on Tuesday, April 28.
“The assailants discharged multiple rounds from pump action weapons at one of the taskforce’s Zonda pickup vehicles,” NAIMOS said in a statement, adding that its operatives executed a tactical withdrawal without sustaining casualties.
In response to the attack, NAIMOS mounted an intelligence-led operation culminating in a cordon-and-search maneuver between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. across Adiewoso and adjoining communities.
A total of 114 individuals were initially rounded up and screened, with 49 subsequently identified as suspected illegal miners operating unlawfully within the GREL plantation.
The Secretariat noted that eight of those screened were confirmed casual workers of GREL, while 12 were senior high school students. Others were identified as artisans and residents with no nexus to the illicit activities and were released.
NAIMOS revealed that three of the arrested suspects are foreign nationals which includes Abdul Karim from Niger, and Nash Ishaku and Eliyasu Sie, both from Burkina Faso.
The operation yielded significant seizures, including one pump action firearm and over GH¢226,000 in cash suspected to be proceeds from illegal mining.
According to the Secretariat, officers recovered GH¢140,000 from a Toyota Raize vehicle belonging to one suspect, while an additional GH¢86,710 and two containers of small ball-like substances suspected to be gold were retrieved from a Toyota Hilux.
Quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis, along with cartons of cigarettes believed to be linked to the illegal mining enterprise, were also confiscated.
NAIMOS said officials from GREL management and the Agona Ahanta Police Command participated in the operation to distinguish legitimate plantation workers from suspected illegal miners.
“The Adiewoso operation reaffirms the resolve of NAIMOS to confront illegal mining in all its manifestations, particularly where it threatens lawful concessions, the livelihoods of legitimate workers, and the structural integrity of the nation’s productive land,” the statement said.
The 49 suspects have been transferred to the Agona Divisional Police Command for comprehensive investigations.