Eastern Region: NAIMOS arrests 3 Chinese in galamsey operation along River BirimI’m

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has successfully dismantled multiple illicit mining sites and destroyed equipment during a recent operation in the Eastern region.

In the process, foreign nationals were apprehended, signaling a stringent crackdown on activities that have long posed a threat to rivers, farmlands, and communities. The operations, which took place between January 16 and 17, 2026, have significantly altered the dynamics of illegal mining along the River Birim basin and its surrounding areas.

On Friday, January 16, the NAIMOS task force, in collaboration with the Blue Water Guards, conducted a raid on Apoli Beposo in the Akyim Oda Swedru District. Focusing on the River Birim, the team encountered illicit miners operating directly in the water. Upon sighting the operatives, the miners abandoned their activities, swimming across the river to escape.

The task force confiscated four chanfang machines and incinerated them on the riverbank, thereby halting the pollution of the river and providing local farmers and residents with a temporary respite from water contamination.

NAIMOS proceeded to another site in Apoli later that day, where three Chinese individuals, Yug Rucheng, Qin Can, and Yang G. Lane, were taken into custody for their involvement in illicit mining operations. The task force seized a blue Zonda vehicle and destroyed all makeshift structures found on the site.

The arrested suspects were transported to Accra under tight security for further investigation.

On Saturday morning, the task force launched an operation in Nyafoman, situated in the Birim North Municipality, a site known for hazardous mining practices. However, most miners escaped before the team could apprehend them.

The operation led to the destruction of several chanfang machines, makeshift structures, and other equipment. Investigations revealed that many miners were foreign nationals, mainly from Burkina Faso, who used hazardous chemicals like cyanide to extract gold, posing significant environmental and public health risks.

The task force stressed the importance of constant patrols to prevent the re-emergence of illicit mining activities at this site.

Later in the day, at Domeabra in the same municipality, NAIMOS again forced illegal miners to abandon their operations. Two (2) excavators were found on site: one (1) already immobilized by the miners and the other partially stripped of essential components, making it inoperable. The presence of the task force in the area has already discouraged several operators from returning, demonstrating the effect of sustained enforcement.

NAIMOS notes that these operations have inflicted financial losses on illegal miners, disrupted their logistics, and restored some order to rivers and surrounding lands. Looking ahead, the Secretariat plans to enhance river patrol capabilities by providing life jackets, speed boats, and hardboard boats to field teams.

Moreover, the permanent deployment of NAIMOS field operatives in hotspots across the Eastern Region is under consideration to ensure sustained gains and prevent the recurrence of illegal mining along the River Birim and in surrounding communities.

The Eastern Region crackdown indicates a clear shift in NAIMOS’ strategy, combining intelligence, rapid response, and permanent presence to make illegal mining a high-risk, low-reward activity while protecting the environment and local residents’ livelihoods.