Fifty suspected illegal miners in the Western and Eastern regions have
been arrested in various operations conducted over the past week,
according to Operation Vanguard.
On Saturday, 13 July 2019, Op VANGUARD personnel in the Western region
apprehended 16 suspected Chinese illegal miners in Enchi Kwahu in the
Aowin District together with five excavators they have been using in
their operations.
The 34 other suspected illegal miners were arrested in the East Akim
Municipality in the Eastern region on Friday. The suspects, who were
made up of both locals and foreigners were apprehended in the general
area of Asiakwa.
Nine of the suspects who were locals were handed over to civil police
at Kibi for prosecution while the others – 16 Chinese, 22 Guinean and
three Burkinabe nationals and the five excavators have been handed over
to IMCIM for further action.
Though the Taskforce has been receiving assistance through tip-offs
from some locals, others have also resorted to providing safe havens for
illegal miners, a statement said. These illegal miners have rented
accommodations within various areas where galamsey is rampant and are
wreaking havoc on our water bodies and forests. Op VANGUARD is therefore
calling on the traditional leadership and locals to help flash out
these unlicensed operators and their collaborators.
Other Operations
In other operations conducted from VANGUARD’s Forward Operating Base
(FOB) in the Central Region a total of 94 Changfan branded water pumping
machines were destroyed.
