A/R: NAIMOS, Blue Water Guards Arrest 2 Chinese in Pre-Dawn Raid on Dankai River
Two Chinese nationals have been arrested after a joint pre-dawn operation by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat task force and the Blue Water Guards uncovered an illegal mining enclave where sections of the Dankai River had been blocked and diverted.
The raid at Sanfo Adiam in the Amansie East District took place between 0400 and 0700 hours on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
It followed credible intelligence of organised galamsey activity along the Dankai River corridor.
The taskforce said it moved from its Manso Adubia base under cover of darkness to reach active mining points before operators could disengage.
On arrival, operatives observed several people mining along the river. Some Ghanaian operators fled into the bushes, including one seen with a pump-action firearm.
Two Chinese nationals, later identified as Lu Honggeng, 53, and Nong Zisun, 41, attempted to escape but were pursued and apprehended.
Officials said the operators had blocked and diverted parts of the Dankai River into an artificial dam to channel water into mining infrastructure.
NAIMOS described the reconfiguration as a “profound assault” on the river’s hydrological integrity and on downstream communities that depend on it.
The arrested suspects have been sent to the NAIMOS Secretariat in Accra for further investigation and will be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service.
NAIMOS said the blocking and damming of the river had been disrupted and pledged to maintain sustained operations in Amansie East and other areas until the Dankai and other affected rivers are restored.
The Secretariat cautioned illegal miners to desist from activities destroying water bodies and forests.
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