Two persons suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities have been arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force during an operation on the Offin River in the Ashanti Region.

The arrests were reported to have been made on Saturday, April 25, 2026, during a raid at Akomfrem in the Atwima Mponua District following intelligence that illegal miners were operating along the river.

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According to anti-galamsey activist and environmental investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, on April 28, 2026, the operation was carried out between 1:00 pm and 9:50 pm after the task force received credible information about ongoing illegal mining activities in the area.

He explained that upon arrival, most of the miners fled, but two suspects were arrested at the site after allegedly claiming ownership of the illegal mining concession without any legal documents.

“On Saturday, 25th April 2026, between the hours of 1300 and 2150 hours, the NAIMOS taskforce based in Ashanti Region carried out a swift operational raid on a galamsey site at Atwima Mponua District. The raid was triggered following hot intelligence received at the NAIMOS HQ that some illegal miners were actively mining on and along the Offin River in a town called Akomfrem,” he stated.

The suspects, identified as 36-year-old Comfort Abayie and 28-year-old Ayenga Abraham, are said to have been found at the site during the operation.

“Upon arrival at the site, the task force observed some of the illegal miners who were actively mining on and along the Offin River, as the intelligence had indicated. Most of the illegal miners took to their heels upon sighting the approaching NAIMOS team,” he added.

Several items were retrieved from the suspects, including vehicles, mobile phones, and suspected gold dust.

“Two of the illegal miners (man and woman) were, however, apprehended at the site, who boldly claimed ownership of the galamsey site, although without any legal documents to mine,” he said.

The task force also seized a wine-colored Honda CRV with registration DV 9678Y-2025, a JMC pickup with registration DV 4168-2026, and several mobile phones, including an iPhone 13 Pro Max, an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Two sachets of suspected unrefined gold dust were also retrieved.

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Following the arrests, the task force destroyed equipment used for the illegal mining operation, including six Changfan machines installed on the river, a diesel welding machine, pipelines, water hoses, and makeshift structures.

Donkor further disclosed that the suspects and exhibits have since been handed over to the Nyinahini District Police Command for further investigation.



MAG/VPO

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