The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested two suspected galamsey kingpins during an intelligence-led operation along the Offin River in the Ashanti Region.
The suspects, identified as a man and a woman, were arrested in the Atwima Mponua District, an area that has become one of the most active hotspots for illegal mining activities along the river.
The operation, carried out as part of intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, targeted organised groups believed to be heavily involved in the destruction of water bodies and surrounding forest reserves.
According to officials, the suspects are believed to be key figures coordinating illegal mining activities along the Offin River, with their operations contributing significantly to the pollution and degradation of the waterway.
During the raid, NAIMOS operatives retrieved and destroyed several illegal mining installations and equipment found at the site.
Authorities also seized a Toyota Hilux pickup and a Toyota RAV4, suspected of being used in supporting and coordinating the illegal mining activities.
The Offin River, one of Ghana’s major water bodies, has in recent years suffered severe environmental damage due to illegal mining, with rising concerns over water contamination and the long-term impact on communities that depend on it.
NAIMOS officials say the latest arrests form part of a shift in strategy aimed at targeting the financiers and coordinators of galamsey operations, rather than only focusing on workers at the mining sites.
The suspects are expected to be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigations and possible prosecution as the crackdown on illegal mining continues nationwide.
