17 Excavators Seized in NAIMOS Operation at Subin-Akwaboso
17 Excavators Seized in NAIMOS Operation at Subin-Akwaboso
A major crackdown on illegal mining has left NAIMOS with a haul of 17 seized excavators, following a joint enforcement operation carried out with the Ghana Armed Forces at Subin-Akwaboso in the Upper Denkyira West municipality and along stretches of the River Offin.
The operation ran from September 7 to 13, 2026, but the groundwork for it started well before that. According to Lt. Col. K.S. Appiah, Director of Operations at NAIMOS, the exercise followed weeks of reconnaissance and intelligence gathering that helped pinpoint active illegal mining sites within the township itself, along roadsides, and along the banks and tributaries of the River Offin.
At the main target site, the joint task force seized 15 excavators and destroyed several chanfang machines along with makeshift structures that had been supporting illegal mining activity in the area.
From there, the team moved further out to Dunkwa-On-Offin, where they targeted additional illegal mining sites. Two more excavators were seized here, alongside the destruction of further chanfang machines and makeshift structures.
Lt. Col. Appiah confirmed that all the equipment recovered during the operation has since been transported to a secure military holding facility in the Ashanti Region, where it will remain pending further investigations and administrative action.
According to Appiah, this operation isn’t an isolated event it’s part of NAIMOS’ sustained push to protect the River Offin and its tributaries, disrupt illegal mining activity along critical water bodies, and prevent further environmental damage.
He added that NAIMOS plans to keep up targeted patrols and follow-up operations in the area, aimed at stopping illegal miners from simply returning once the enforcement team moves on, and strengthening monitoring along the entire River Offin corridor.
Beyond enforcement, Appiah stressed the importance of properly reclaiming and restoring the mining sites that have already been degraded, framing it as essential to protecting both water resources and the communities that rely on them.
He also revealed that in the coming days, the enforcement team will be engaging with individuals suspected of involvement in illegal mining, with the goal of ensuring the affected sites are properly restored.
Lt. Col. Appiah further emphasized the importance of properly reclaiming and restoring degraded mining sites as part of efforts to protect water resources and surrounding communities, adding that in the coming days the enforcement team will engage persons suspected to be involved in illegal mining to ensure proper reclamation of affected sites.
