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The National Security has embarked on an operation to stop sand winning along portions of the coastline in the Central Region to stem the tide of environmental degradation of the beaches. With the police Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), earth-moving equipment and trucks, the Human Security Department of the National Security, led by Major Ignatius Awuni, launched the operation at Elmina to halt activities of sand winners. The sand winners alleged they had received the blessing and support of the leaders of the Elmina Traditional Council and some policemen who were paid daily and weekly to protect their activities. The security operatives swiftly moved to the Central Quarry near Komenda, also in the Central Region, to collect some boulders which had been dropped at the two most important access routes to the beaches of Mbofra Akyinim in Elmina, the space between the Coconut Grove Beach Resort and the Elmina Bay Resort, near Komenda. During the operation which lasted about five hours, the operatives sealed the two routes with huge boulders to ensure that no vehicle had access to the beach to engage in sand winning. In addition to the planting of the boulders, a signboard with the inscription �Sand Winning here is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be prosecuted. National Security�, would be placed in front of the boulders to warn the sand winners. In an interview, Major Awuni said the situation would have been contained a long time ago if some security outfits within the region had not reneged on their responsibilities by not arresting the perpetrators. He mentioned further that they moved in as soon as they assessed and realised the gravity of the situation in terms of the enormity of the devastation, especially as the regional minister made an urgent request to protect the investments in the area. Major Awuni noted that they could not make any arrests because strangely, even though they did not give the date of the operation, the truck drivers seemed to have been warned to stay away in view of the impending swoop. �The Regional Security Coordinating Committee has many members and it is not clear who may have leaked the information to the truck drivers. We are happy though that the most important thing has been done�. Some of the investors in the area expressed relief and hope that the sand winners would be provided with alternative areas to win sand.