By Felix Cofie
NAIMOS has delivered a major blow to illegal mining operations in the Western North Region, dismantling a foreign-led galamsey network operating dangerously close to the Bia River in the Suaman Dadieso District.
A 31-member task force moved into the Kwabena Lantey and Suibo zones late Saturday morning and worked deep into the night. Within minutes of entering the forest, officers uncovered a large illegal mining enclave concealed near the river. Evidence suggested the operators had been tipped off; several excavators had been hidden in the bush with their control boards removed in a failed attempt to prevent their seizure. The proximity of the activity to the Bia River revealed significant environmental harm, with polluted runoff already threatening nearby communities.
At a suburb known as Niger, the operation took an unexpected turn when officers retrieved an abandoned mobile phone left behind by a fleeing suspect. The unlocked device contained WhatsApp communications linked to a contact saved as “Boss Lii,” pointing to direct coordination by foreign nationals.
Acting swiftly on this intelligence, NAIMOS operatives arrested nine (9) Chinese nationals, escorting them to multiple sites to verify their involvement. Officers documented severe environmental degradation and dismantled makeshift camps used for accommodation and gold processing. Many of these structures were destroyed to prevent reoccupation.
The task force also seized several items used to sustain the illegal activities, including:
• 2 excavator filters
• 1 Tecno smartphone
• 1 water pumping machine
• 1 mini car-washing machine repurposed for mineral processing
• A bottle containing mercury
• 1 motorbike used to move between sites
Later in the evening, a four-member team from the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) arrived to take custody of scrap metal and equipment remnants, continuing the national scrap recovery initiative led by senior officer Hannah Arhin. NAIMOS escorted the team through the Suaman Dadieso District Assembly and onward to Asankragua.
All nine arrested foreign nationals were transported to NAIMOS Headquarters for formal investigations. The task force also reported to the Dadieso Divisional Police Station, where police leadership assured that residences linked to the suspects would be secured pending further directives.
In a dramatic twist, NAIMOS officers revealed that an anonymous caller attempted to bribe the team with GH¢2.7 million in exchange for the suspects’ release. The offer was immediately rejected, reinforcing NAIMOS’ commitment to integrity.
Despite long hours, rough terrain, and heavy resistance from the illicit network, NAIMOS maintained full operational control. The Director of Operations coordinated the mission remotely, issuing real-time instructions to ensure strict adherence to national security protocols.
Saturday’s operation marks another major victory in the nationwide fight against galamsey—one that exposed a foreign-controlled mining syndicate, protected a critical water body, and sent a powerful signal that environmental crimes will be met with swift, uncompromising enforcement.
