The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force operating in the Ahanta West Municipality has arrested a suspected illegal mining kingpin and four others after rejecting an alleged bribe during a raid at Cape Three Points.

The operation, carried out on Saturday, January 31, 2026, targeted multiple illegal mining sites within the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, an area that has suffered widespread environmental destruction from galamsey activities.

According to officials, the task force stormed the sites around 8:40 a.m., dismantling and burning makeshift structures and confiscating equipment used for the unlawful mining operations.

During the exercise, officers recovered two excavators that had been deliberately disabled by miners who removed and hid their monitors in an attempt to prevent seizure. NAIMOS operatives were, however, able to retrieve the machines and prepared them for transportation to the agency’s equipment holding yard in Takoradi.

While the excavators were being escorted from the forest to the main road, a man identified as Bright Mensah—believed to be a key figure behind the illegal mining activities—allegedly approached a task force member to negotiate their release.

Driving a white pickup truck with registration number GT 8299-24, the suspect reportedly claimed ownership of the machines and attempted to offer a bribe of GH₵20,000 to influence the officers.

The bribe was rejected, leading to the immediate arrest of Mensah and four other miners later traced to his illegal mining site. The pickup vehicle was also seized.

All five suspects have since been handed over to the Abura Police Station in the Agona Nkwanta District for further investigations as authorities intensify efforts to clamp down on illegal mining across the region.