Galamsey: NAIMOS seizes weapons and equipment in Ahanta West raids in the western region

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has seized weapons and mining equipment during large-scale operations targeting illegal mining in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.

On Thursday, January 29, the task force conducted raids at multiple galamsey sites. At approximately 7:30 a.m., miners were discovered working in a stream at Agonakrom, which feeds into the Hwin River. Several pumps and pipelines along the stream were destroyed by the task force.

Later, at 9:25 a.m., the team raided a site locally known as “Agenda 111” in Mpohor, located about 200 metres from a hospital plot under the Agenda 111 project. Miners had blocked parts of the Butre River within a palm plantation and were actively mining in the water, causing environmental damage. The miners fled upon seeing the task force vehicles.

Two Sany excavators found on-site were transported to the Mpohor District Office and immobilized by removing their monitors and control boards. Three water pumping machines were also seized. Additionally, explosives discovered at the site were safely disposed of by an explosive expert from the task force. Several makeshift structures, old water pumps, hoses, and changfan machines used for water mining were also destroyed.

Following the raids, NAIMOS traced and raided the residences of the illegal miners, confiscating seven pump-action guns, twelve BB cartridges, one unregistered grey Toyota Hilux, one control board, three radios, one 32-inch television, and three water pumping machines.

The task force also conducted extensive operations along the Butre River, burning several makeshift structures and pumping machines used by local illegal miners in the Mpohor District. Operations continued in the Mpohor Fiase area, where additional makeshift structures and changfans along the Butre River were destroyed.