A joint security operation led by the National Security taskforce and military personnel resulted in the closure of a warehouse used to store illegal mining equipment in the Eastern Region. The 3News report indicates that over twenty newly manufactured changfan machines were discovered during the raid. These machines are commonly used in illegal small scale mining operations to process gold along riverbanks and within forest reserves.
The taskforce conducted the raid following an intelligence led investigation into the distribution of mining machinery within the region. According to a GhanaWeb report secondary sources confirmed that the operation is part of the renewed Phase Six of Operation Halt which targets the destruction of equipment found on protected water bodies. The suspected owners of the warehouse were not on the premises at the time of the seizure and authorities are currently working to identify the individuals involved.
Official statements from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have previously emphasized that the possession and use of changfan machines on water bodies are prohibited under the Minerals and Mining Act. A Citi Newsroom report noted that the seized equipment has been moved to a secured location for further investigation. Security officials have not yet announced any formal arrests in connection with this specific warehouse raid as of the time of publication.
The Eastern Region has remained a focal point for anti galamsey operations due to the high level of turbidity in the Birim and Pra rivers. While 3News reported the seizure of twenty machines other local sources remain unconfirmed regarding the exact total number of items impounded during the weekend exercise. The National Security coordinator for the region stated that surveillance on potential storage hubs will continue to prevent the deployment of new machinery into the river systems.