In a special anti-galamsey operations at Samreboi, along the Tano River, Wassa Dunkwa, Tigarikrom and surrounding communities in the Western Region, the Police have so far arrested fifty-eight (58) suspects comprising fifty (50) Ghanaians and eight (8) Chinese in connection with illegal mining activities and retrieved eighty-five (85) excavators and three (3) bulldozers.
Similar anti-galamsey operations have been carried out by various Regional Police Commands across the regions as follows:
The Western Regional Police Command has arrested 19 suspects and retrieved three (3) excavators and three (3) pump action guns among other exhibits.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested seven (7) Ghanaian suspects and retrieved eleven (11) changfangs and three (3) motorbikes among other exhibits.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command Region has arrested twenty-four (24) suspects including one (1) Burkinabe and retrieved five (5) escavators, three (3)single barrel guns and one (1) pump action gun among other exhibits.
The Western Central Regional Police Command has arrested eighty- five (85) suspects comprising three (76) Ghanaians and nine (9) Chinese and also retrieved eleven (11) excavators and other exhibits.
The Eastern North Regional Police Command also arrested fifteen (15) suspects including one (1) Chinese and retrieved four (4) excavator control boards, nine (9) monitors and one (1) pistol among other exhibits.
In all, a total of 208 suspects have been arrested and 99 excavators, 3 bulldozers, 4 pump-action guns, 3 single-barrel guns, 1 pistol, 11 changfangs together with several other exhibits including vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles, generators, gold detectors and pumping machines have been received by the Police.
A statement by the Police Service said “All the suspects are being taken through the due processes of the law.”
The Ghana Police Service assures the public of its commitment to fighting illegal mining and preserving the country’s natural resources.
