NAIMOS seizes truck with 22 new chanfang machines in Eshaem

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining by seizing a truck carrying 22 newly manufactured chanfang machines in Eshaem, Western Region. This operation marks a significant shift in enforcement strategy, moving beyond just raiding mining sites to actively dismantling the logistical and supply networks that sustain illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey. Authorities are now focusing on the entire ecosystem, including the manufacturers, transporters, and equipment suppliers who facilitate these environmental crimes.

During the targeted operation in the Eshaem enclave, the NAIMOS Task Force also destroyed 28 active chanfang machines, 19 water pumps, and five makeshift structures used by illegal miners. The discovery of the truck loaded with brand-new equipment highlights the sophisticated logistics involved in modern illegal mining operations. By intercepting these machines before they could be deployed into riverbeds and forest reserves, authorities aim to disrupt the continuous cycle of equipment replacement that often undermines anti-galamsey efforts.

The secretariat's expanded mandate now includes identifying and prosecuting the entire chain of actors involved in the industry. NAIMOS officials emphasized that by targeting these supply lines, they intend to weaken the operational capacity of illegal miners who rely on a steady flow of specialized machinery. This intelligence-led approach is designed to ensure that those facilitating the trade from the sidelines face the same legal consequences as those working the pits, thereby creating a higher barrier to entry for illegal mining operations.

The Eshaem operation is part of a broader, ongoing campaign focused on the Ankobra River and its surrounding areas, which have suffered extensive environmental damage from illegal mining. NAIMOS has pledged to maintain its presence in these vulnerable ecological zones, leveraging enhanced intelligence-gathering to prevent the resurgence of mining activities. The secretariat warned that its enforcement units will remain vigilant across all known galamsey hotspots to protect Ghana's water bodies and forest reserves from further degradation.