The seized drugs
The National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has heightened its efforts to clamp down on illegal mining hotspots across the Western Region.
As part of the efforts, the taskforce on November 15, 2025, conducted a dawn operation at a notorious illegal mining site known as ‘Yellow Face’ at Wassa Abrehyia in the region.
The surprise dawn operation caused the illegal miners at the site to flee in an attempt to evade arrest.
The miners abandoned the site and scattered into nearby bushes.
The taskforce discovered makeshift camps and mining tools believed to be used for the unlawful operations.
The taskforce also discovered and seized significant quantities of illicit drugs and dynamite.
The NAIMOS taskforce also dismantled and burnt all makeshift structures and equipment believed to be used for illegal mining.
According to the officials, more targeted operations are expected in the coming days to crackdown on galamsey activities as well as curb the associated illicit drug menace.
The discovery of the dynamites further highlights the dangerous lengths the miners are willing to go to achieve their aim, irrespective of the associated risks to the environment and the locals.
In response, NAIMOS is intensifying the fight against illegal mining, as it seeks to restore degraded lands and reclaim vast lands that have been destroyed over the years.
The taskforce also aims at fighting the dangers associated with galamsey, which has become a national cancer, especially in the country’s mining areas.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi