Seven Chinese nationals suspected of mining illegally in the Western region have been arrested.

The Operation Vanguard team picked up the seven in a day-long patrol conducted Monday in the general area of Aniamote in the Wassa Akropong District. Li Jiaming, 45, Qin Weida, 45, Yang Rong, 37, Lixu Rong, 46, Lee Tong Lin, 23, Qin Weic, 41 and Bi Ming, 48, have been handed over to the IMCIM for further action, a statement said.

At the time of their arrest, they had two locally manufactured rifles, a pump action together with some other equipment in their possession.

An excavator they were operating was also seized and handed over to the IMCIM. =