20 illegal miners arrested by Abirem taskforce handed over to police
Twenty suspected illegal miners including two Chinese nationals have been arrested at Abirem in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
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The task force at Abirem that arrested them have since handed them over to the police.
The miners were arrested at mining sites in Abirem Roman Missionary House Down.
During a special operation last Saturday, October 12, the taskforce seized two excavators, mining equipment, and two pumping machines from the site.
The operation follows a confrontation between the local youth and the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Birem North, Raymond Nana Damptey last Saturday.
The youth had resisted the entry of two low-bed trucks transporting excavators into the community.
Head of the task force, Eric Gyataba who confirmed the arrest, expressed frustration over the interference by local authorities in their efforts to combat illegal mining.