The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force has arrested eight illegal miners, including a Chinese national, during an intelligence-led operation at Oseikokrom in the Amansie West District on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
According to the Secretariat, the suspects attempted to flee upon sighting the task force but were intercepted at the site.
Those arrested are Huang Weiye; (38 years), a Chinese national, and seven Ghanaians: Augustine Manu, 23 years; Kwame Ntoadro, 41 years; Moses Alou, 30 years; Alex Lenley, 32 years; Yaw Owusu, 26 years; Shaibu Wuni, 26 years; and Patrick Bampoa, 22 years.
Two Toyota Hilux pickups with registration numbers GX 555-24 and CN 5168-26 were seized at the site along with a pump action gun. Two excavators were found actively engaged in illegal mining.
One was seized and transported to the NAIMOS logistics holding area in Kumasi.
The second excavator could not be moved due to an attached tracker and was immobilized on site after its monitor and control board were detached.
The task force also destroyed several makeshift structures used as hideouts by the illegal miners.
Huang Weiye has been conveyed to NAIMOS Headquarters for further investigations and subsequent handover to the Ghana Immigration Service.
The seven Ghanaian suspects have been handed over to the Antoakrom Police Station to assist with investigations and prosecution.
Director of Operations for NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, said the Secretariat will continue to intensify surgical raids in galamsey hotspots across the country.
He noted that the operations and other strategies adopted by NAIMOS are significantly disrupting entrenched illegal mining networks responsible for destroying cocoa farms, forest reserves, and road networks, while severely polluting water bodies.
Source: Kwadwo Baffour Atuahene
