17 illegal miners including 6 Chinese nationals arrested by Operation Vanguard

Six Chinese nationals and eleven Ghanaians have been arrested in two separate operations at Aboaboso, Bawdie and Tarkwa-Ayanfuri by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Operation Vanguard.

All the six Chinese nationals were arrested at Aboaboso forest in the Amansie West District where they were doing illegal mining while the 11 Ghanaians were also arrested at Bawdie and Tarkwa-Ayanfuri.

The Chinese have been identified as Wei An, 37, Qiu Wann, 36, Wei Li, 37, Pan Qi Yang, 55, Qin Bu GI, 48 and Wan Jin Li, 42.

They are currently being held at the Datano Police station.

The eleven Ghanaians, two of whom were females were also arrested by a team led by Col. Michael Amoah-Ayisi and they include Michael Tetteh, Abudu Razak, Albert Asamoah, Akwesi Buklow and Akose Iddrisu who are currently at the Wassa Akropong District Police Station pending further investigation and prosecution.

The rest, Hassan Sina, Samed Moro, Moro Jakalel, Abdul Seidu, Janet Danso and Veronica Mensa-both female are also at the Ayanfuri Police Station.

Some of the areas the task force stormed included; Ayanfuri, Gyapa, Dompoase, Nkonya, Wassa Akropong, Bawdie, Epom, Ataase, Mampong and other towns and villages.

Squadron Leader Robison Omane Agyei, Public Relations Officer (PRO) Operation Vanguard who briefed Graphic Online attributed the latest arrest to cooperation from the general public who are volunteering information to the operation team.

The Task Force after the arrest at Tarkwa-Ayamfuri immobilized 158 changfans, 15 water pumping machines, a Kia Taxi with registration number AS 226-16, motorbikes and other mining equipment.

The Team also seized substance believed to be mercury as exhibits for prosecution.

During the arrest of the Chinese, the team also confiscated six excavators, two generator sets, one welding machine, three cylinders and other mining equipment.

Other items seized were one locally manufactured gun, three mobile phones which together with the suspects were handed over to the Datano Police station for further investigation.

Squadron Leader Robison Omane Agyei, warned those who have defied the ban and hiding in the bush and still indulging in illegal mining to stop.