The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), has dismantled entrenched illegal mining networks within the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region, in an intelligence-driven operation.
On October 23, 2025 the NAIMOS Taskforce, working jointly with operatives from the Ashanti Regional Security and with some logistical support from the Ashanti REGSEC, launched a coordinated mission that resulted in the arrest of some illegal miners and nine armed imposters posing as National Security operatives.
The operation, in which NAIMOS deployed three tactical teams across the forest to secure access routes and apprehend suspects, aimed at restoring law and order in one of Ghana’s most environmentally degraded reserves.
Acting on a tip-off by local informants, NAIMOS operatives arrested 15 illegal miners and intercepted several illegal miners attempting to flee the reserve on motorbikes on hearing of the taskforce’s approach.
During the operation, NAIMOS operatives also encountered nine armed men dressed in khaki uniforms who falsely identified themselves as National Security personnel.
Upon interrogation, the suspects, claimed to be acting under the command of a certain Major Jabari.
A search of the men uncovered one pistol with three rounds of ammunition, one toy pistol, one pump-action shotgun with three cartridges, two handcuffs and eight pouches, all of which were seized as exhibits for further investigation.
In a separate development, NAIMOS intelligence operatives foiled an attempted bribery by individuals who arrived in a Toyota Tundra and a Ram pick-up, claiming they were associates of the arrested illegal miners.
The men approached the taskforce under the pretext of “greeting” the officers and “pleading” for the release of their associates.
During the engagement, they offered GH₵100,000 as bribe and an additional GH₵20,000 as “chop money.”
The operatives tactically feigned interest before arresting the suspects for attempting to bribe law enforcement officers.
Following the arrests, the taskforce proceeded further into the Oda River Forest Reserve to assess the extent of environmental damage.
The once reclaimed forest, previously replanted with trees and palm trees, had been severely destroyed by renewed illegal mining with vast tracts of land degraded, vegetation cleared and water bodies heavily polluted.
Further inspection revealed that illegal miners had established a makeshift settlement deep within the reserve, consisting of numerous wooden structures and tents serving as living quarters and operational bases.
The taskforce, acting under environmental protection directives, dismantled and set the illegal structures and equipment ablaze to prevent future reoccupation.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi
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