Three Chinese nationals have been arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) during an operation targeting illegal mining activities widely known as galamsey along the Tano River in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region.

The Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and spokesperson of NAIMOS, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, disclosed this in a JoyNews interview on May 15, 2026.

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According to him, the suspects were identified as “Deng Jun, 37; Deng Bi Hua, 50; and Deng Bi Qiang, 32,” were allegedly overseeing galamsey activities at the site.

Paa Kwesi Schandorf explained that during the operation, some Ghanaians at the site fled when the task force arrived, while the foreign nationals remained behind.

“Upon the arrival of the NIMAS task force, it was detected that there were indeed some Ghanaians… who were also around at particular sites, but they fled instantaneously when the team got there, but the Chinese were the ones who didn't move… so they were subsequently arrested,” he stated.

Paa Kwesi Schandorf said the taskforce also seized several weapons and equipment used for illegal mining.

“The team was also able to confiscate one pump action gun, dwarf cartridges, one Toyota Hills pickup of registration number GS 5288 street two, and… they have since been handed over to the immigration service for the rest of the processes to continue,” he said.

The suspects were initially taken to the NAIMOS Secretariat before being handed over to the Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service in Accra.

In addition, the team dismantled and destroyed more than 20 changfan machines mounted on floating platforms, along with pipelines and makeshift structures found at the site.

He reiterated NAIMOS' commitment to eliminating illegal mining activities along water bodies across the country.

JKB/VPO

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