The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 11 suspected illegal miners during separate enforcement operations in the Western and Eastern Regions, targeting illegal mining activities in forest reserves and along critical water bodies.
The operations, conducted on October 29 at the Cape Three Points Forest in Ahanta West, Abrokyire-Krobo in Wassa Amenfi East, and the Apapam-Asikem area in Abuakwa South, also led to the destruction of several pieces of mining equipment and makeshift structures.
At the Cape Three Points Forest in the Ahanta West Municipality, NAIMOS personnel arrested four suspected illegal miners after uncovering mining activities at multiple locations within the forest.
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At the first site, the task force destroyed four chanfang machines and seven water pumps. Further patrols led personnel to another mining location, where the operators had fled before their arrival.
Two excavators were found at the second site, although their monitors had been removed. The task force destroyed three additional chanfang machines, four water pumps and four makeshift structures. It also recovered a critical component from one of the excavators.
In a separate operation at Abrokyire-Krobo in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, NAIMOS personnel raided an illegal mining site after the operators fled upon spotting the task force.
The operation resulted in the destruction of five chanfang machines, five water pumps, seven generator plants and two makeshift structures. An additional chanfang machine and a water pump were also recovered.
The task force observed signs of renewed mining activity in some areas, highlighting the need for sustained monitoring to prevent illegal miners from returning to previously cleared sites.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Region, NAIMOS arrested seven suspected illegal miners during an operation in the Apapam-Asikem area of the Abuakwa South Municipality.
The exercise targeted illegal mining activities along the Birim River and its tributaries, as well as areas bordering the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
The operation also destroyed two chanfang machines, three water pumps and three makeshift structures.
According to NAIMOS, illegal miners continue to exploit remote and difficult-to-access terrain along water bodies to evade enforcement operations.
The Secretariat said the simultaneous exercises form part of an expanded strategy to sustain pressure on illegal mining activities across water bodies, forest reserves, farms and other identified hotspots.
It added that it would continue intelligence-led operations to prevent the reoccupation of cleared sites, disrupt illegal mining activities, and protect critical environmental resources.
NAIMOS warned that illegal miners would not be allowed to operate in forest reserves, remote communities or along river systems, adding that previously cleared locations would remain under surveillance and enforcement teams would return if mining activities resumed.
CNR