The National Anti-Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS) has carried out a large-scale dawn operation in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, leading to the arrest of 36 individuals involved in illegal mining activities at Osino.

According to officials from NAiMOS, the suspects include 32 Nigerien nationals and 4 Ghanaians, all apprehended during a coordinated swoop targeting illegal mining sites notorious for environmental destruction and water pollution in the area.

The operation, which commenced in the early hours of Saturday, November 8, 2025, forms part of intensified national efforts to clamp down on galamsey operations that continue to threaten Ghana’s natural resources, especially river bodies and farmlands.

Sources within NAiMOS revealed that several mining tools, dredging equipment, and makeshift shelters were seized and destroyed during the raid.

The arrested individuals are currently in custody, assisting with investigations and will be processed for prosecution after screening by the Ghana Immigration Service and the Police.

A senior NAiMOS officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the task force remains resolute in enforcing the ban on illegal mining, regardless of the nationality of offenders.

“This operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment and ensuring that all mining activities are conducted within the legal framework,” the officer stated.

The swoop has been widely praised by local residents, who have long complained about the destruction of farmlands and the contamination of nearby water bodies by illegal miners.

Meanwhile, the Fanteakwa South District Security Council (DISEC) has assured residents that further joint operations will be conducted in other hotspot communities as part of a sustained national crackdown on galamsey.