The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has seized heavy mining equipment worth millions of cedis and arrested 11 Chinese nationals during operations targeting illegal mining activities in the Bole/Bamboi area.

The task force last Friday, returned to a mining site where the Chinese nationals had been arrested the previous day to seize various equipment and items used in the galamsey operations.

Among the seized equipment were four Shacman tipper trucks with registration numbers GT 7048-25, GT 7035-25, GT 7265-25, and GT 7243-25, along with a bulldozer registered GT 5321-25 and a low bed truck GT 1128-21.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of a Forland small truck, 10 drums of engine oil, 28 assorted Richlion tires, motorbikes, excavators, and pump-action guns.

All seized equipment and items have been transported to NAIMOS headquarters in Accra through hired drivers, where they will be held pending further direction and action.

The NAIMOS Task Force continues to conduct operations at galamsey sites in the Bole district as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal mining and protect the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.

The government has reiterated its commitment to combating illegal mining, with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service stepping up operations in various command centers across the country.

The operations aim to protect Ghana’s natural resources and ensure that those involved in galamsey activities are held accountable for the environmental and social impacts of their actions.

The seizure of the heavy equipment is expected to disrupt illegal mining operations in the area, while the continued presence of the task force serves as a warning to other operators engaged in similar activities.

The NAIMOS operations in Bole/Bamboi represent part of the government’s broader strategy to address illegal mining across Ghana and promote sustainable mining practices that protect the environment.

The task force’s efforts demonstrate the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources and taking decisive action against those who engage in activities that damage the environment and threaten sustainable development.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD