The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS) has struck a major blow against illegal mining in the Ashanti Region, dismantling a well-organised multinational syndicate operating in the communities of Ntabanu and Nyameadom in Mankraso.
The coordinated operation on Saturday, May 2, 2026, resulted in the arrest of three Chinese nationals and four Ghanaian operators, and the seizure of an array of vehicles and heavy equipment believed to be linked to the illicit activities.
According to NAiMOS, the crackdown began as a routine patrol in the Mankraso operational corridor but quickly escalated when taskforce operatives spotted a brown Zonda pickup fleeing from a suspected galamsey site in Ntabanu. The driver, a Chinese national, was apprehended after a brief pursuit as he attempted to evade the task force following the spread of news about the operation among local illegal miners.
Further intelligence gathered by the task force revealed that operators had begun concealing excavators and other heavy-duty machinery, anticipating a raid. The swift response by NAiMOS operatives prevented the escape of key suspects and led to the immediate arrest of the first Chinese operator.
Meanwhile, in a related operation at nearby Nyameadom, the task force intercepted a convoy of three vehicles, Nissan Navara, Nissan Oting, and Toyota Hilux, carrying two more Chinese nationals and four Ghanaian accomplices. The suspects were reportedly attempting to flee after abandoning an excavator at an active mining site, following extensive destruction of farmlands and the pollution of the River Mankran—a crucial water source for the local communities.
Authorities said the well-coordinated response blocked the convoy without resistance or casualties, leading to the arrest of all six suspects. The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Su Zhoxiang, 43; Wei Renguang, 54; Tan Shishian, 50; and four Ghanaians: Kumi Richard, 34; Justice Nkrumah, 37; Emmanuel Nyeri, 25; and Francis Mintah, 23.
A search of the sites resulted in the recovery of GH¢2,750 from the Zonda pickup, the seizure of all four vehicles used by the syndicate, an excavator, and an “Aboboyaa” tricycle. Authorities also discovered several assorted and expired non-citizen identification cards belonging to the Chinese suspects.
The four Ghanaian suspects have been handed over to the Mankraso District Police for further investigation and possible prosecution, while the three Chinese nationals have been transferred to NAiMOS Headquarters in Kumasi. They are expected to be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for further action. The confiscated excavator has been transported to the NAiMOS logistics holding facility in Kumasi for safekeeping.
NAiMOS officials highlighted that the operation underscores the continued involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining, despite legal prohibitions against their participation in Ghana’s small-scale mining sector. The scale of logistics uncovered, including multiple vehicles and heavy machinery, points to the structured and well-financed nature of these illicit networks.
Reaffirming its commitment to the fight against illegal mining, the Secretariat assured the public that all individuals involved, both foreign and Ghanaian, will be vigorously pursued and prosecuted. NAiMOS pledged to intensify its operations to protect Ghana’s natural resources and uphold the rule of law.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com