The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has destroyed 92 chanfang machines along the River Tano at Asemkrom in the Aowin District of the Western North Region within four days.
The latest operation on October Sunday, 18, 2026, came just days after an initial enforcement action on October 15, where the NAIMOS Task Force uncovered extensive illegal in-stream mining involving platforms and chanfang machines operating directly on the river near the Jema-Asekrom Forest Reserve.
During the October 15 raid, the task force destroyed 61 chanfang machines, seized six water pumps and a generator, and arrested three suspects who were handed over to the police.
However, follow-up riverine patrols on October 18 showed that illegal miners had returned to parts of the river, with several platforms and chanfang machines again operating on the water.
The team moved in and destroyed an additional 31 chanfang machines and seized two outboard motors.
According to NAIMOS, the persistent in-stream mining has left the river heavily turbid, with visible environmental degradation along affected stretches, posing a threat to the adjoining forest reserve and communities that depend on the river.
The Secretariat said the rapid return of miners after the first operation highlights the need for sustained patrols and continuous enforcement to prevent cleared sites from being reoccupied.
It said it will maintain pressure along the River Tano and other hotspots while deepening engagement with local communities to discourage participation in illegal mining and encourage reporting of suspicious activities.
The operations form part of Operation WATER SHIELD, NAIMOS’ campaign to protect strategic water bodies by denying illegal miners access to rivers and riverbanks and dismantling their infrastructure.
NAIMOS assures stakeholders of action on reported invasion of Atewa Forest by illegal miners
