Five Chinese nationals arrested over galamsey in Eastern Region

Security agencies have arrested five Chinese nationals in a renewed crackdown on illegal mining activities in the Eastern Region.

The arrests followed a targeted intelligence operation led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), working jointly with the Eastern Regional National Security Office, at a known mining hotspot within the Birim Central Municipality.

Authorities say the suspects were allegedly operating illegally along sections of the Birim River, a water body that has come under severe threat from galamsey activities in recent years.

As part of the operation, officers disabled and destroyed mining equipment found at the site to prevent further degradation of the river and surrounding farmlands.

The five suspects, including one female, remain in custody as investigations continue ahead of their transfer to relevant state institutions for further legal action.

Eastern Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Francis Annoh-Dompreh, said the security services will scale up surveillance and enforcement across mining communities to protect the environment.

He warned that both foreign nationals and locals who engage in illegal mining will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.