Twenty-seven (27) suspected illegal miners have been arrested by the Government backed Operation Vanguard team at Abomosu a farming community in the Atiwa West District in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The suspects who are all local residents were caught by the operation vanguard team operating some abandoned galamsey pits at wee hours of the night.

But vigilance on the part of the anti-illegal mining team lead to their arrest in the Abomosu forest.

Nine (9) other locals have also been nabbed at Aperade in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

Equipment ceased from them include gold detecting machines, chemicals used in washing the gold, mercury and some others.

All 36 suspects have been handed over to the Afosu local police for further investigations.

Meanwhile a Chinese national has also been arrested for engaging in illegal mining in Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.