The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested five armed men who were allegedly impersonating members of an anti-galamsey task force in the Western Region.
The arrests were carried out on February 13, 2026, at Hiawa in the Wassa Amenfi Central Municipality, following complaints from residents and miners that a group of armed men was extorting money from illegal mining operators under the guise of official NAIMOS operations.
According to the Secretariat, the suspects were intercepted while returning from an operation at Ayiem Juabo after a suspicious vehicle believed to be linked to the group was identified.
Weapons and other items, including a pistol, magazines, pepper sprays, cutlasses, hand radios, a handcuff and GH₵150,000 in cash, were retrieved from the suspects. The five men have since been transported to Accra and handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.
NAIMOS has cautioned the public against dealing with individuals posing as anti-galamsey officers and urged residents to report any suspicious activities, stressing that impersonation of its task force will not be tolerated.