The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested two Chinese nationals during a major anti-galamsey operation at Sanfo Adiam in the Amansie East District of the Ashanti Region after authorities uncovered an illegal mining scheme that had altered the natural flow of the Dankai River.
The suspects, identified as 53-year-old Lu Honggeng and 41-year-old Nong Zisun, were apprehended during a pre-dawn raid jointly carried out by the NAIMOS Manso Adubia taskforce and the Blue Water Guards on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
According to NAIMOS, the operation was launched following intelligence reports indicating intensified illegal mining activities along the Dankai River corridor.
The taskforce reportedly moved from its operational base in the early hours of the morning, targeting the site between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. in an attempt to catch the operators before they could flee.
Officials said the team arrived to find several individuals actively mining along the river.
However, most of the suspects, including some Ghanaian operators, escaped into nearby bushes after spotting the approaching security personnel.
NAIMOS disclosed that one of the fleeing miners was armed with a pump-action shotgun, raising fresh concerns over the growing security threats associated with illegal mining operations in the country.
While several suspects managed to evade arrest, the two Chinese nationals allegedly attempted to flee but were chased down and arrested by the joint taskforce.
Investigators at the scene reportedly uncovered extensive environmental destruction caused by the illegal operation.
Authorities said portions of the Dankai River had been deliberately blocked and diverted into an artificial dam created to supply water for mining activities.
The diversion, according to NAIMOS, was designed to support the washing and extraction of mineral deposits, significantly disrupting the river’s natural course and threatening communities downstream that rely on the water source for domestic and farming activities.
Officials described the destruction as a serious environmental violation and warned that such practices continue to endanger Ghana’s water bodies and ecosystems.
“The deliberate obstruction and redirection of the river represents a major assault on the ecological integrity of the area and the livelihoods of residents who depend on the river,” the Secretariat stated.
The arrested suspects have since been transported to Accra for further investigations and are expected to be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for the necessary legal and immigration processes.
NAIMOS assured the public that the illegal structures and artificial channels created by the miners along the Dankai River had been dismantled as part of the operation.
The Secretariat further announced that anti-galamsey operations in the Amansie East enclave and surrounding areas would continue in the coming weeks and months as authorities intensify efforts to restore polluted and diverted rivers to their original state.
It also issued a strong warning to illegal miners to immediately abandon activities that destroy forests, farmlands and water bodies, stressing that enforcement operations would be sustained across affected communities.
By 1960news.com
