A successful operation led by the Rapid Response Unit of the Forestry Commission has resulted in the demobilization of 10 excavators and the arrest of eight individuals engaged in illegal mining activities in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve in the Juaboso Forest District of the Western North Region.
The apprehended individuals included four Chinese nationals and four Ghanaians, while others managed to escape during the operation.
The arrested suspects, identified as Wen Shi Yu, Wen Yong Cheng, Wen Fu Kin, Lee Pin, Edward Owusu, Kwesi Frank, Abudu Ramani, and Joe Naburi, have been sent to the Sefwi Wiawso Police Regional Command for further investigations and prosecution.
During the operation, two individuals alleged to be police officers carrying AK-47 assault rifles were picked up by the team.
The Rapid Response Unit also razed makeshift structures erected by the illegal miners and seized three Toyota 4×4 vehicles, an unregistered motorbike, and two pump-action guns.
The confiscated items, along with unspecified quantities of a substance suspected to be gold, have been handed over to the authorities for further examination.
The Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve, known for its rich biodiversity, serves as a vital watershed, with a portion designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA).