The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has detained two Chinese nationals for participating in illicit mining operations near Pankese in the Eastern Region’s Birim North District.
The suspects, known as Li Yongjin and Nou Chin Haw, were detained on Saturday, January 3, during an operation by a squad sent to the region.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) apprehended two Chinese nationals for engaging in illicit mining operations in Pankese, Birim North District, Eastern Region.
The suspects, named as Li Yongjin and Nou Chin Haw, were captured on Saturday, January 3, as part of an operation by a task team stationed in the region.
According to NAIMOS, the two international nationals were caught actively mining illegally, which resulted in considerable damage to forest cover and cocoa farmlands in the area. The activities have also severely polluted local water sources, including stretches of the Birim River.
The task force incapacitated two excavators discovered at the location by removing their monitors and control boards, leaving the equipment unusable. NAIMOS stated that the decision was made due to the instant unavailability of lowbed services to move the heavy equipment.
The team also demolished several illicit mining equipment and facilities at the site, and burnt down makeshift dwellings built to assist the illegal mining operations. A Toyota Tundra pickup truck with licence plate AS 8120-20 was recovered at the scene and purportedly used by the suspects.
