About 30 persons alleged to be National Security Operatives are in the grips of the police for engaging in illegal mining activities in the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region.
The security group was arrested on Wednesday morning, by forest guards and residents of Akyem Akanteng in the West Akyem municipality, following their questionable entry into the Atewa forest.
It is alleged that the said National Security Operatives gained entry into the Atewa forest under the pretext of clamping down on illegal miners.
On board five Toyota Land Cruisers, the men in military uniforms entered the forest on Tuesday evening wielding sophisticated weapons.
According to the Kade District Manager of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Adu-Boahen, suspicious of their actions, residents supported by the forest guards laid ambush at dawn when the team was leaving the forest after their nocturnal activities.
Residents deflated the tires of the Toyota V8 vehicles and arrested 19 and later apprehended 11 more, before handing them over to the Kade District Police Command.
The culprits have since been transferred to the Eastern Regional Police Command in Koforidua for further investigation.
This is about the third time alleged National Security Operatives have been apprehended in the Atewa Forest for engaging in “galamsey” in a period of one month.
