Ten Chinese nationals have been arrested in a joint operation by the Ghana Gold Board and National Security for their alleged involvement in illegal gold smuggling activities in Asankragua, a mining hub in Ghana’s Western Region.
The arrests, made earlier this week, follow months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, officials said. The suspects are believed to be part of a larger network engaged in the unlawful purchase and export of gold, bypassing Ghana’s official gold export channels and evading taxes.
According to sources within the Ghana Gold Board, the operation uncovered significant quantities of unprocessed gold and sophisticated equipment allegedly used to conceal and transport the precious metal. The seizure forms part of a broader national crackdown on gold smuggling, which has cost the country millions of dollars in lost revenue.
“This is a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal mining and smuggling,” said a senior official with the Gold Board, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The activities of these groups undermine the integrity of our gold export system and rob the nation of vital resources.”
National Security operatives confirmed that the suspects were apprehended at multiple locations in and around Asankragua, a town known for both legal and illegal small-scale mining activities. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow.
The Ghana Immigration Service and the Minerals Commission have also been engaged as part of the broader inter-agency effort to clamp down on foreign involvement in illegal mining operations — commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
Preliminary findings suggest that the suspects may have violated both immigration and mineral export regulations. Legal proceedings are expected to commence once the investigation is complete.
Smuggling and illicit mining have long posed challenges for Ghana, which remains Africa’s largest gold producer. While the government has intensified efforts in recent years to formalize small-scale mining and tighten border controls, enforcement remains difficult in remote mining areas like Asankragua.
Officials say the latest arrests demonstrate the government’s resolve to sanitize the gold sector and protect the country’s natural resources.
By : Isaac Fiifi Klotey Mensah