The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested six Chinese nationals for engaging in illegal gold mining (galamsey) operations directly in the River Nyaase, a tributary of the Tano River, at Kunsu Gyaenkontabuo in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region.
According to NAIMOS, the suspects were caught actively mining in the river, an activity that poses severe environmental risks including water pollution and degradation of surrounding farmlands. The intelligence-led operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The task force first apprehended one Chinese national at the mining site around 8:20 a.m. The suspect then led officers to their hideout/residence, where the remaining five were arrested.
Items recovered during the raid include:
- Two pump-action guns
- 102 cartridges
- One vehicle
- GH¢60,000 in cash
- Mining equipment and a tricycle (aboboyaa)
All six suspects, along with the seized items, have been transferred to NAIMOS headquarters for further investigation. They have also been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for appropriate action, with authorities indicating that the suspects will face immediate prosecution.
This arrest highlights ongoing concerns about foreign involvement in galamsey activities, which continue to threaten Ghana’s water bodies and natural resources despite repeated crackdowns. River Nyaase, like many others, supplies water to communities and supports local agriculture — damage from illegal mining often leads to long-term contamination and health risks.
The X post by @SIKAOFFICIAL1
, which included video footage from Republic Media showing the suspects being escorted from the muddy site by armed personnel, has sparked widespread reactions online. Many Ghanaians expressed frustration over the persistence of such operations and called for stronger measures, including prosecuting local enablers who sell land or provide access to these sites.
NAIMOS has described the bust as one of the more significant single-operation arrests of foreign nationals in recent times, underscoring the increasingly organized and potentially armed nature of some illegal mining networks.Stay tuned for updates on the prosecution and any further actions by authorities.
Six Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining operations in Kunsu, located in the Ahafo Ano South West District, have been apprehended by NAIMOS.
The suspects were arrested after NAIMOS uncovered that they were mining directly in the River Nyaase. They are currently in… pic.twitter.com/fWznRN4eUH
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) April 21, 2026
