The Ghana police Service has said in a statement that an intelligence-led nationwide operation over the weekend has led to teh arrest of 49 suspects connected to illegal mining activities.
The statement indicated that the police have intensified the fight against illegal mining through a series of intelligence-led operations across the country.
The operations were carried out at 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 the Awin river at Pankese and Akyem Akwadum in the Eastern Region, said the statement.
“These coordinated operations resulted in the retrieval of exhibits, including various mining equipment,”it stated.
At Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa, the Western Central Regional Police Command arrested 19 suspects, disabled over 135 chanfan machines and retrieved exhibits including 23 Water Pumping Machines, 4 Excavator batteries and a motorbike, according to the statement.
In the Ashanti region, it said the regional police command had arrested nine suspects at Akrokerri.
“In the Awin River at Pankese and at Akyem Akwadum, the Eastern South Regional Police Command arrested eleven (11) suspects and retrieved 1 excavator monitor, two (2) excavators pedals, seven (7) excavator control boards and one gold detecting device,”the police added.
the statement added that the Central North Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects and retrieved four (4) excavators, 8 pumping machines and 1 Cylinder machine at Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso,
“All suspects are in Police custody assisting ongoing investigations,”the police added.