3 suspected gold smugglers busted by GoldBod security task force
The GoldBod Security Taskforce has arrested three (3) suspected gold smugglers.
The suspects, all Indian nationals, are identified as Goutam Katriya, 35; Miraj Sarvaych, 22; and Manash Damani, 42.
They are said to be involved in gold trading activities in Kumasi and Accra under the company name Unique MM, allegedly owned by one Musah Salifu.
They were apprehended at a private residence near Atinga Junction in Kumasi, which had been converted into an illegal gold trading centre.
The suspects were arrested following a tip-off from a whistleblower who allegedly reported that the suspects were purchasing gold at “black market” rates for the purpose of smuggling.
After their arrest, they were taken to the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, April 28, and have been remanded in custody for two weeks.
Addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, disclosed that a substantial amount of evidence was gathered during the operation.
This evidence includes GH¢1.9 million, 4,500 Indian rupees, 4.363 kilograms of gold, two counting machines, a CCTV recorder, and an Indian passport.
Preliminary investigations indicate that none of the suspects holds a valid license to buy or sell gold in Ghana, and despite operating in the gold sector for over a decade, they have not provided any documentation for a residence permit, work permit, or tax payments.
Further inquiries revealed that Musah Salifu, listed as a shareholder of Unique MM in Ghana, is merely a front for Goutam Katriya, who is believed to be the actual owner and operator of the company.
Chief Superintendent Alhassan urged both locals and foreigners to adhere to the Ghana Gold Board Act and other pertinent regulations governing gold trading in the country.
“This arrest is only the beginning of GoldBod’s ruthless war against illegal gold trading and gold smuggling. We know that the arrested suspects smuggle gold through unapproved border points into India. This has serious negative consequences for the Ghanaian economy. We are still gathering intelligence on several illegal gold traders and smugglers. And very soon, we shall take necessary action,” he noted.
The suspects will remain in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) until their next court appearance on May 12, 2025.
In the meantime, GoldBod has emphasised its earlier directive requiring all foreign entities engaged in the gold trading sector to withdraw from the market by April 30, 2025.
Additionally, it has mandated that all gold transactions be conducted in Ghana cedis, adhering to the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.
A press release from GoldBod on April 23, 2025, reiterated that any violation of these directives will be regarded as a punishable offence under the GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140).