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The Joint Task Force (JTF) Forward Operation Base (FOB) Western of Operation Vanguard within Amenfi Central District in the Western Region, led by Captain Dominic N Nakpaja and his patrol team have arrested seven suspected illegal miners made up of three Chinese nationals and four Ghanaians.

The Operation Vanguard Personnel, upon the arrests, handed the Ghanaians over to the Manso Amenfi East District Police, whilst their Chinese accomplices were handed to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining (IMCIM) taskforce, additionally giving the ministerial taskforce a seized excavator, excavator parts, excavator monitor control board and some gear levers.

A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency by the Press Interactions Officer of FOB Western – Capt Andy Sowatey, admitted the difficulties the troops undergo in pursuing their mandate, but said that the difficulties can be lessened if the locals make it a habit of offering tipoffs, for the JTF basically operated by information and not guesswork.

Capt Sowatey also stated that all excavators and their parts, upon seizure, were sent to the IMCIM taskforce but everything else was held in an evidence room on location at the JTF FOB, pending court proceedings.