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The Forestry Commission has arrested 11 suspected illegal miners in a dawn anti-galamsey operation conducted on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Pra Anum Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region.
The suspects include eight Ghanaians and three Chinese nationals. The operation was carried out by a 28-member joint task force made up of three Rapid Response Teams, with support from officers of the Oda Forest District of the Forest Services Division.
According to the Forestry Commission, the arrests were made in Compartment 70 of the Pra Anum Forest Reserve at Banka, within the Oda Forest District.
The Ghanaian suspects were identified as Mohammed Mustapha, 25; Aminu Moro, 48; Owusu Emmanuel, 28; Raymond Opoku Agyemang, 32; Teye Joseph, 32; Oduro Emmanuel, 29; Aaron Oppong Gyebi, 36; and Isaac Apana, 32.
The Chinese nationals arrested are Jun Hunay, 42; Wen Yong Feng, 49; and Lu Zheng Zhan, 37.
All 11 suspects have been handed over to the Asante Akim Juaso District Police Command to assist with investigations and possible prosecution.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of two pickup vehicles, a Toyota with registration number GW 4974-23 and a Great Wall vehicle with registration number GT 4189-25. In addition, eight excavators and one automatic pump-action gun were confiscated.
The Forestry Commission said the seized vehicles have been moved to the Oda Forest District Office for safekeeping. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining and protect forest reserves across the country.
