Goldbod, National Security arrest foreigners over illegal gold; weapons, cash seized

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), in collaboration with the National Security apparatus, has apprehended a group of foreign nationals involved in illegal gold trading activities in Ghana.

The high-stakes operation, conducted in a coordinated effort, marks a significant step in the fight against illicit mining and unregulated mineral transactions across the country.

According to sources familiar with the operation, the arrests were made following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.

The suspects, whose nationalities have not yet been disclosed, were reportedly operating a clandestine network that traded in unlicensed gold and bypassed regulatory channels, raising serious concerns about national revenue loss and security threats.

The crackdown led to the retrieval of a cache of items believed to be used in the illegal operations. These include 12 pump-action guns, several rounds of cartridges, gold calibration machines, an undisclosed quantity of gold, and a substantial amount of cash suspected to be proceeds from the illicit trade.

Officials say the discovery of weapons raises alarm over the growing militarisation of illegal mining operations in Ghana, with potential implications for public safety and law enforcement.

Goldbod, a key player in Ghana’s regulated gold industry, has reiterated its commitment to supporting government efforts to sanitise the mining and gold trading space. A representative from the company stated that the operation underscores the need for enhanced multi-agency collaboration to dismantle criminal syndicates exploiting Ghana’s mineral wealth.

National Security is currently interrogating the suspects, and further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the illegal network, as well as possible local collaborators.

Authorities have assured the public that more stringent measures will be put in place to monitor and regulate gold trade activities, particularly in mining hotspots.

The operation is seen as a warning to others engaged in similar activities that the state will pursue and prosecute all offenders to the fullest extent of the law.