NAIMOS intensifies multi-region operations against illegal mining

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified enforcement operations against illegal mining in the Western and Eastern Regions, targeting activities in forest reserves, farming areas and along critical water bodies.

Separate operations on October 29, at Cape Three Points Forest in Ahanta West, Abrokyire-Krobo in Wassa Amenfi East, and the Apapam-Asikem area in Abuakwa South resulted in the arrest of 11 suspected illegal miners and the destruction of significant illegal mining infrastructure.

At Cape Three Points Forest in the Ahanta West Municipality, NAIMOS personnel discovered illegal miners operating at several locations across the forest. At the first site, the Task Force destroyed four chanfang machines and seven water pumps, and arrested four suspected illegal miners, who were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation.

Further patrols led to another major site, where the operators had fled before the Task Force arrived. Two excavators were found at the site, but their monitors had already been removed. The Task Force destroyed three additional chanfang machines, four water pumps and four makeshift structures, and recovered a critical component from one of the excavators.

In a separate operation at Abrokyire-Krobo in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, a NAIMOS Task Force raided an illegal mining site after the operators fled upon sighting personnel.

The operation destroyed five chanfang machines, five water pumps, seven generator plants and two makeshift structures. An additional chanfang machine and water pump were recovered from the site.

The patrol also observed renewed mining activity in some areas, underscoring the need for sustained monitoring and repeated enforcement to prevent miners from reoccupying previously disrupted locations.

In the Eastern Region, NAIMOS conducted operations in the Apapam-Asikem area of the Abuakwa South Municipality, targeting illegal mining activities affecting the Birim River and its tributaries, as well as areas adjacent to the Atiwa Forest Reserve.

The operation resulted in the arrest of seven suspected illegal miners and the destruction of two chanfang machines, three water pumps and three makeshift structures.

NAIMOS assessments indicate that illegal miners continue to exploit remote, difficult terrain along water bodies to evade enforcement.

NAIMOS says the operations demonstrate its commitment to expanding and maintaining pressure across water bodies, forest reserves, farms and other illegal mining hotspots, rather than concentrating enforcement on a single location.

It says it will continue with intelligence-led, sustained operations to prevent the reoccupation of cleared sites, disrupt illegal mining logistics and protect critical environmental assets.