NAIMOS arrest seven in anti-galamsey operation along boin river

Seven individuals, including four foreign nationals and three Ghanaians, have been arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) during a targeted operation against illegal mining activities along the Boin River.

The exercise was carried out on April 11, 2026, by the NAIMOS Enchi Task Force within the Boinso–Abrokyire enclave in the Aowin District of the Western North Region.

Officials say the operation, conducted between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., followed credible intelligence about ongoing illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—in the area.

Upon arrival, the task force encountered active mining operations taking place dangerously close to the Boin River. The suspects were reportedly washing minerals directly in the water body, a practice known to cause severe environmental degradation, including water pollution, siltation, and destruction of aquatic life.

Environmental observers have long warned that such activities threaten not only biodiversity but also the livelihoods of communities that depend on these rivers for drinking water, fishing, and farming.

A search of a nearby wooden structure, located approximately 45 metres from the mining site, uncovered:

• Three pump-action guns
• 37 rounds of ammunition
• Two excavator control monitors believed to be linked to the illegal operations

The presence of firearms at the site has raised concerns about the increasing militarisation of illegal mining activities, which often puts enforcement officers and local residents at risk.

The task force also dismantled and set ablaze makeshift wooden structures believed to have been used as operational bases for the miners.

All seven suspects were apprehended at the scene without resistance. The four foreign nationals have been identified as:

• Lu Weiykng
• Zhou Xuanbai
• Tan Zhongqiang
• Zhu Jiping

The three Ghanaian suspects—David Done, Santos Adaboo, and Naya Sampana—have since been handed over to the police at Boinso for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The operation forms part of a broader national effort to clamp down on illegal mining, which continues to pose a major environmental and security challenge in Ghana.

Authorities have in recent months intensified surveillance and enforcement across several mining hotspots, particularly in forest reserves and along major river bodies. Agencies involved in the anti-galamsey fight have repeatedly stressed that both local collaborators and foreign nationals found engaging in illegal mining will face the full rigours of the law.

Residents in affected areas have frequently complained about the pollution of water sources, forcing some communities to rely on alternative and often unsafe water supplies. In farming communities, degraded land has reduced agricultural productivity, further compounding economic hardships.

Environmental groups have also called for sustained enforcement, stricter penalties, and rehabilitation of degraded lands to reverse the long-term damage caused by illegal mining.

Authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were recorded during the operation.

Investigations are ongoing, and officials say additional arrests may follow as they work to dismantle networks behind illegal mining activities in the region.