The Forestry Commission has arrested 11 Chinese nationals and 10 Ghanaians in an intelligence-led operation targeting illegal mining activities (Galamsey) at the Yakombo Forest Reserve in the Buipe Forest District of the Savannah Region.

The operation, carried out on December 2, involved 51 personnel from the Forestry Commission, including forest guards from the Buipe and Bole Forest District offices of the Forest Services Division, and three Rapid Response teams.

The suspects were apprehended in Compartments 50 and 51 of the reserve, near Tuntumba in the Bole-Bamboi District.

The Chinese nationals arrested are: Tang Shao Qi (28), He Peng (40), Zhou Qin Sar (25), Wu Xu (39), He Chuang Ye (45), Cheng Lin (40), Long Xi (32), Yang Gesheng (51), Zhang Hongzhaojie (34), Zhou Peng (39), and Wu Yujie (24).

The Ghanaians are Alhassan Yakubu, Daniel Mba (33), Pious Kwabena (20), Emmanuel Amankra (40), Seidu Suleman (44), Sampson Akawuni (22), Thadeus Gideon (27), Mohammed Salim (21), Mohammed Kanamu (25), and Saaka Yakubu (22).

The operation also led to the seizure of vehicles and equipment, including one Toyota Hilux, two Great Wall pick-up trucks, three Howo tipper trucks, and one Man Diesel low-bed truck carrying an excavator.

All suspects have been handed over to the Damongo Regional Police for investigations and prosecution, while the seized equipment has been deposited at the Mole National Park, which is managed by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.

The Yakombo Forest Reserve, established in 1974, is Ghana’s largest forest reserve, covering approximately 1,210 km².