In two swift, intelligence-driven operations carried out within 48 hours of each other, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS) has sent a firm message to illegal miners along the Offin River: the crackdown is real, and it is closing in.
The operations, executed by a NAiMOS taskforce stationed at Manso Adubia, targeted illegal mining hotspots at Droso and Eniamoah in the Amansie South enclave, areas authorities describe as among the most heavily exploited stretches of the river. When the dust settled, nineteen people were in custody, and dozens of pieces of equipment had been seized.
On April 12, 2026, NAiMOS operatives moved on Droso, acting on intelligence gathered from local sources. What they found when they arrived confirmed the tip-offs: miners were actively working along the banks of the Offin River, machinery humming, the operation in full swing.
The task force moved quickly. Nineteen suspects, men and women aged between 23 and 35, were arrested at the scene. Others, sensing the approach of security personnel, fled before they could be caught.
The haul from the raid was telling: eight water-pumping machines, five motorbikes, an excavator monitor, and an excavator key were all recovered, painting a picture of a well-resourced and organised illegal mining operation.
A day later, on April 13, the task force was back in the field. This time, the target was Eniamoah, near Ntoboroso, where fresh intelligence pointed to ongoing galamsey activity along the same river.
When operatives arrived, the scale of what they encountered was striking — extensive illegal mining operations spread along the riverbanks. But word had apparently travelled fast. The miners abandoned the site and fled before they could be apprehended.
They left behind, however, fifteen motorbikes — a detail that speaks volumes about the size and coordination of the network operating in the area. NAiMOS officials say the evidence uncovered at Eniamoah underscores just how much pressure the Offin River is under from illegal mining activity.
With the operations concluded, NAiMOS is not standing down. The Secretariat has announced plans to deploy Blue Water Guards to intensify patrols across the Eniamoah and Ntoboroso areas, ensuring that those who fled cannot simply return once the immediate heat dies down.
Officials also highlighted the role of inter-agency intelligence-sharing in making both operations possible, describing it as a model for how the fight against galamsey must be conducted, not reactively, but proactively, with information leading the way.
NAiMOS has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a sustained operational presence along the Offin River until illegal mining is completely eradicated from the area. The message from the Secretariat is unambiguous: the Offin River is no longer a haven for galamsey operators, and the operations of the past two days are proof that the authorities mean business.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com