A total of 47 individuals have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Tano River and within the Aboi, Subri, and Nimiri forests in the Western Region.

This follows a special four-day intelligence-led operation that commenced on April 17, 2025, within the Samreboi enclave.

According to the Ghana Police Service, the suspects include 39 Ghanaians and 8 Chinese nationals.

The Police indicated that a significant amount of equipment and materials believed to have been used for the mining operations were retrieved. These include seventeen excavators, one bulldozer, four motorbikes, two Toyota Hilux vehicles, one Rav4 vehicle, four pump action guns, one single barrel gun, fifty-four live BB cartridges, and eight pumping machines.

Prosecution has already begun for the arrested suspects. On Tuesday, 41 of them were arraigned, with 29 remanded into Police custody to reappear before the court on April 30, 2025. Twelve others were also remanded to return to court on May 2, 2025. The remaining seven will be put before the court today, April 23, 2025.

In a related development, the Ghana Police Service has reassigned several commanders in a renewed push to curb illegal mining. “The Police Administration has reshuffled some Police commanders in galamsey areas as part of efforts to inject fresh energy in the fight against illegal mining activities in the country,” the statement said.

The reshuffle affects Divisional and District Commanders in the Eastern, Western, and Western North Police Regions, which have been among the hardest-hit areas in the ongoing battle against galamsey.

The Police assured the public of their continued commitment to combating illegal mining and protecting Ghana’s natural resources through sustained law enforcement operations.