Some three Chinese and two Ghanaians allegedly involved in illegal mining activities popularly known as Galamsey have been arrested.
Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, made this known to the media on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
Addressing the media from the Information Ministry, the Minister said the operational area for the fourth phase of Operation Halt II was the river Ankobra in the Western Region.
He said some 592 assorted illegal mining items were destroyed by the armed forces during the phase four.
He said out of the 592 items, 24 were excavators; 341 were chanfangs; 123 water pumping machines; four grounding machines; six generators; six motorbikes; and 30 fuel barrels.
He stated that during the operation, it was observed that some illegal miners have moved their equipment out of the 100 meters zone and parked in nearby communities.
According to him, the armed forces observed that most of the locals did not see any danger associated with illegal mining.
About 420 military personnel from all ranks were deployed for the fourth phase of the operation.
Update on prosecution
Meanwhile, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, gave update on the ongoing prosecution of some alleged illegal miners.
He said some suspects have been remanded; with some accused persons denied bail.
The suspects, he said included Chinese and Ghanaians.
Some of them, he said were arrested in the Western Region.
By Melvin Tarlue