Operation Vanguard, led by Colonel Michael Amoah-Ayisi, the Commander, has arrested eleven illegal miners on the Tarkwa-Ayanfuri Road during an operation conducted between Ayanfuri and Bawdie.

Michael Tetteh, Abudu Razak, Albert Asamoah, Akwesi Buklow and Akose Iddrisu have been handed over to the Wassa Akropong District Police.

The rest; Hassan Sina, Samed Moro, Moro Jakalel, Abdul Seidu, Janet Danso and Veronica Mensa are, however, with the Ayanfuri Police.

Squadron Leader Robison Omane Agyei, the Public Relations Officer of the Joint Military/Police Task Force, said the patrols were done by the Forward Operating Bases (FOB) from Ashanti, Central and Western regions.

He stated that the suspects were nabbed in towns and villages including Ayanfuri, Gyapa, Dompoase, Nkonya, Wassa Akropong, Bawdie, Epom, Ataase, and Mampong.

The items confiscated were 158 Chang fan platforms, 15 water pumping machines, a KIA taxi cab with registration number AS 226-16, and motorbikes among other mining equipment.

He said the Team also seized a substance believed to be Mercury and, together with the other items, would be used as exhibit for prosecution.

Sq. Leader Agyei said: “Operation Vanguard is by this operation sending out a strong warning to illegal miners across the country to desist from such acts. This will enable the government to structure the mining sector to allow sustainable mining.”

He called on all Ghanaians to help stop illegal mining now and in the future.