The Operation Vanguard has arrested 15 Chinese nationals suspected to be engaging in illegal mining at the Juaboso District in the Western North Region.

The arrests were made on Saturday June 22 2019 when the task force at   Forward Operating Base closed in on the Chinese illegal miners.

The  Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Operation Vanguard Captain Andy Sowatey in a statement said, "both the suspects and equipment have been handed over to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining for further action".

He added that "Galamseyers have resorted to operating deeper into the forest areas of the Western North Region as the Taskforce have extended its operations into those areas. Vanguard will, however, continue to fish them out regardless".

The statement further indicated that the operation, which was carried out simultaneously at different sites within the general area of Bonsai in the morning at about 5:30 a.m also resulted in the seizure of five excavators.

The statement further read, "Due to their reliance on locals, some of the illegal miners are proving more difficult to apprehend because these spies have been warning them of the Taskforce as and when they approach their sites.

"Some of the locals also harbour the illegal miners in their homes and are reluctant to give them up when their activities are reported, an action which is contrary to Section 99 (4) of Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, Act 900.

"Operation Vanguard is, therefore, sounding a word of caution, to not only the illegal miners but also their local accomplices that both actions are against the law.

"Any individuals found to have been providing any form of support for these galamseyers will be arrested during the course of future operations", the statement said.