Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS) have carried out a targeted enforcement operation along the Butre River at Hotopo in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, dismantling a well-organised illegal mining site and neutralising key equipment used in ongoing activities.

The operation, which commenced at about 0930 hours on Friday, April 24, 2026, followed credible intelligence received earlier in the day. The NAIMOS taskforce swiftly mobilised to the location with the aim of halting illegal mining operations and rendering all machinery at the site permanently unusable.

Upon arrival, the taskforce discovered two excavators stationed within a large mining pit, alongside approximately ten Changfan machines, two heavy-duty water pumps, and several improvised gold washing platforms. Hoses drawing water directly from the Butre River were actively in use, confirming that mineral processing was ongoing at the time of the raid.

The scale and coordination of the operation indicated a sustained and well-resourced illegal mining enterprise. In response, the taskforce destroyed all Changfan machines and water pumps by burning, while dismantling the washing platforms to prevent any resumption of activities.

Further inspection revealed that operators had removed critical components of the excavators, including swing motors and fuse boxes, in an apparent attempt to prevent their seizure or removal.

However, NAIMOS operatives countered this tactic by implementing additional measures to ensure the excavators could not be reused. Key parts such as control boards, operator monitors, oil pumps and gear levers were stripped. In a decisive move, sodium chloride was introduced into vital engine and hydraulic systems to cause irreversible damage.

The intervention ensured that the machinery would remain permanently inoperable despite any future attempts at repair.

The operation concluded without incident, with all illegal mining equipment at the site effectively neutralised. The Butre River, a vital water resource in the area, has been a repeated target of illegal mining activities.

NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations along affected waterways, stressing that illegal mining equipment will not only be seized but permanently destroyed to prevent further environmental damage.

The Secretariat warned that individuals investing in illegal mining do so at the risk of losing their equipment entirely, as enforcement efforts intensify across the country.