The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Taskforce on Saturday, January 31, 2026, intensified its operations against illegal mining in the Ahanta West Municipality, leading to the arrest of five suspects and the seizure of heavy mining equipment at Cape Three Points.
During an early-morning operation around 8:40 a.m., the taskforce raided several illegal mining sites within the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, an area severely degraded by unlawful mining activities.
The operation resulted in the destruction of makeshift structures and the burning of mining equipment found at the sites.
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As part of the exercise, officers recovered two excavators that had been deliberately immobilized by illegal miners, who removed and concealed the monitors.
The taskforce successfully secured the excavators and began arrangements to transport them to the NAIMOS equipment holding area in Takoradi.
While the excavators were being moved from the forest to the main road, a suspected illegal mining kingpin, identified as Bright Mensah, allegedly approached a taskforce member and attempted to bribe him with GH¢20,000 to secure the release of the machines.
The suspect arrived in a white pickup vehicle with registration number GT 8299-24.
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Bright Mensah and four other individuals linked to his mining site were subsequently arrested and handed over to the Abura Police Station for further investigation. The suspect’s vehicle was also seized.