The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS) has arrested forty-nine (49) suspected illegal miners following a high-risk dawn operation at Adiewoso in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, 30 April 2026, targeted illegal mining activities within the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) plantation and led to the retrieval of a pump-action firearm and the seizure of over GH₵226,000 believed to be proceeds from illegal mining.

The swoop follows an earlier attack on NAIMOS operatives on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, where armed illegal miners ambushed a taskforce team stationed in Nzema East.

The assailants reportedly opened fire on a NAIMOS vehicle using pump-action weapons. No casualties were recorded, as officers tactically withdrew.

In response, NAiMOS launched an intelligence-led operation between 0330 and 0430 hours, cordoning off Adiewoso and nearby communities. A total of 114 individuals were initially rounded up for screening at the Adiewoso Community Centre.

After verification, 49 individuals were identified as suspected illegal miners.

Eight were confirmed as GREL workers, while twelve were senior high school students. Others screened were artisans and residents with no links to illegal mining and were subsequently released.

Among those arrested are three foreign nationals from Niger and Burkina Faso.

The operation also uncovered GH₵140,000 in a Toyota Raize and GHS86,710 alongside suspected gold substances in a Toyota Hilux.

The owner of the Hilux, Ebenezer Cobbinah, was arrested and is assisting with investigations. Substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cartons of cigarettes were also seized.

All suspects have been handed over to the Agona Divisional Police Command for further investigations.

NAiMOS reaffirmed its commitment to combating illegal mining, warning that armed resistance will not deter efforts to protect Ghana’s natural resources and lawful concession