Seventeen illegal miners have been arrested in a swoop by the joint Police-Military Task Force set up by the Regional Security Council, to clamp down illegal mining activities which are becoming prevalent in the Kwarbeng-Takyiman area in Atiwa District of the Eastern Region.
The joint Task Force reached the illegal mining site where over forty (40) men and women were busily digging and washing mud in search gold around 9:30am, however, most of them fled to the nearby bust leaving the unlucky seventeen miners and some old and impoverished women who were later freed.
Some members of the Task Force explained they were able to make such significant arrest because �we were in mufti when we passed the town so the town folks couldn�t identify us; they would have called to tell them we are coming so they run away. And also the commercial cars we used also helped a lot�.
Leader of the Task Force, Lieutenant Gamor explained they released the women because they looked very weak and tired, however, they gave them strong warning not to partake in any illegal mining activity in the area �because we won�t forgive them the next time we get them�.
The Security Personnel further explained the Regional Security Council under the leadership of the Regional Minister Ambassador Victor Smith had urged them to use any �tactics available� to ensure illegal mining is curbed in the region.
The task Force also revealed they were able to impound 1 excavator, 13 washing machines, 13 water pumping machines, spades, head pans, blankets, bicycles and a motorbike and have transported them to Koforidua for further investigations by the Regional Police command.
A source close to the Regional Minister revealed Ambassador Smith was determined to fight the illegal mining (galamsey) menace, which had resulted in the depletion of the once fertile lands of the Eastern region.
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