The Ghana Police Service has arrested 49 individuals for engaging in illegal mining during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted across various regions of the country.
The coordinated operations were carried out in Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa in the Western Region; Akrokerri in the Ashanti Region; Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso in the Central Region; and along the Awin River at Pankese and Akyem Akwadum in the Eastern Region.
In the Western Region, the Western Central Regional Police Command apprehended 19 suspects in Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa. Authorities also disabled over 135 changfan machines and seized 23 water pumping machines, four excavator batteries, and a motorbike.
In Akrokerri, located in the Ashanti Region, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command arrested nine individuals.
In the Eastern Region, 11 suspects were apprehended along the Awin River and at Akyem Akwadum. Recovered items included one excavator monitor, two excavator pedals, seven control boards, and a gold-detecting device.
At Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso in the Central Region, the Central North Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects and seized four excavators, eight water pumping machines, and a cylinder machine.
All the suspects are currently in police custody and assisting with ongoing investigations.
