The Ashanti Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Operation Vanguard Task Force launched by the government to clamp down on illegal miners has arrested three Chinese and six Ghanaian illegal miners at Kobro in Amansie Central District.
Squadron Leader Robison Omane Agyei, Public Relations Officer of Operation Vanguard in a news briefing gave the names of the Chinese suspects as; Curen Huai, Tam Censen and Nang Haito.
The six Ghanaian collaborators were; Nobert Ben, Kwesi Atta, Joshua Atta, Solomon Ayambaya, Cosmos Awuni and Yussif Ali.
Squadron Leader Agyei revealed that the team also seized a digital scale machine, five Android phones, and ammunition and de-mobilised two Chang Fa machines used in the illegal mining.
The suspects and the items seized had been handed over to the Jacobu Police Station for further investigations for possible prosecution.
Squadron Leader Agyei said, Operation Vanguard Task Force has so far arrested 1,185 suspected illegal miners, who were standing trials before the various courts.
The Joint Task Force had also seized 106 weapons, 2,335 ammunitions, 74 vehicles, 75 motorbikes, 1,373 water pumping machines, and de-mobilised 525 excavators as well as 5,111 Chang Fa machines.
He called on the public to support the Task Force with information that would aid in pursuing and flushing out illegal miners to allow government to regularise the mining sector.
The PRO urged all Ghanaians to help to sanitise the environment for future generations and for mining to be done in a more sustainable manner.
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