A/R: 13 excavators seized, Chinese national and others arrested

A dawn operation by the Ashanti Region Anti-Galamsey Taskforce has led to the seizure of thirteen excavators and some arrests in illegal mining sites at the Adansi enclave.

Leader of the task force, Captain (Rtd) John Kwame Jabari, describes the operation as the most successful since the commencement of the fight.

He says all excavators and suspects targeted in their reconnaissance were arrested.

“It is the most successful because almost all the sites we went, we were able to pick the machines and arrest the culprits who are involved in the illegal mining activities,” he said.

The task force, in efforts to arrest perpetrators of the crime, is formulating new modalities for operation.

A review of operational strategy is driving the current success.

Captain (Retired) Jabari emphasised, “We have changed the modus operandi many times but this time we have been able to perfect it.”

According to the taskforce, the present phase of the operation is geared towards clearing waterways and halting the destruction of cocoa farms.

This follows what the leaders call a successful claw-back of some forest reserves that were being mined illegally.

The Adansi enclave is among the areas heavily affected by illegal mining.

Large tracts of land have been destroyed by the illegality, with many cocoa farms being the worst affected.

Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari indicated the operation was prompted by concerned residents within the catchment.

“Most of the time, it is not our own intelligence, the people report these illegality to us and we act on them”, he added.

Meanwhile, the task force continues to warn persons involved in perpetuating the illegality to desist from it.