Three foreign nationals arrested over illegal mining on Tano River

Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) arrested three Chinese nationals on Thursday, 14 May 2026, along the Tano River in the Amenfi West District. The operation, conducted between 0300hrs and 1530hrs, involved collaboration between the NAIMOS task force and the Blue Water Guards as part of efforts to clear illegal mining activities along the Tano River. The team encountered miners operating Changfan machines mounted on floating platforms directly on the river at Oforikrom.

The three suspects were identified as Deng Jun, 37, Deng Bi Hua, 50, and Deng Bi Qiang, 32. A search of the area led to their arrest for allegedly overseeing the mining activities at the site. Inspections conducted at the site revealed extensive pollution of the Tano River and significant destruction of farmlands caused by the illegal mining activities. The illegal operations had also drastically reduced the depth of the river. The task force seized one pump-action gun, twelve cartridges, and one Toyota Hilux pickup with registration number GS 5288-22. The task force also dismantled and destroyed more than 20 Changfan machines mounted on floating platforms, along with several pipelines and makeshift structures found at the site.

The three suspects were initially taken to the NAIMOS Secretariat before being handed over to the Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service in Accra. NAIMOS reiterated its commitment to eliminating illegal mining activities along water bodies across the country. The Secretariat further cautioned illegal miners to consider the responsible cooperative mining programme introduced by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources or risk losing their equipment and facing prosecution.