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Security agencies in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region have seized 250 drums of suspected cyanide valued at about GHC 800,000. The interception happened on July 16, 2025, in Zupiri, near the Black Volta River at the border with Burkina Faso.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) led the operation with support from the District Police Command, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). The chemicals were found ready to be transported across the river illegally.
No arrests have been made yet, but investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible. The seized cyanide drums have been secured at the Nadowli police station. The district authorities and security officials have increased patrols and border monitoring to prevent such illegal activities, which pose serious environmental and public health risks to local communities who depend on the Black Volta River for water and farming.
The District Chief Executive, Mary Haruna, has praised the swift action of the security agencies and plans to improve border security by constructing a permanent post for immigration officers and other personnel in the area to curb smuggling and illegal mining further.
Cyanide is a hazardous chemical commonly used in illegal gold mining, causing pollution that damages aquatic life, soil fertility, and human health. This seizure is seen as a strong step towards combating illegal mining and protecting the environment in the Upper West Region.
Source:channel247online.com/Rafiq Nungor Adam
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
