The Rapid Response Team and staff of the Forest Services Division in the Tarkwa District of the Western Region has arrested 19 illegal miners in the Bonsa (born-sa) River Forest Reserve.
A statement from the Corporate Affairs and Media Relations office of the Forestry Commission said the arrest occurred at Aboso (Abor-su) North Range.
The team earlier arrested 11 suspects in a similar operation in the same forest reserve.
The illegal miners, who work with water-pumping machines, shovels, and other handheld tools, have mounted tents and operate in the reserve day and night.
The suspects have been handed over to the Tarkwa Police Command for further investigations and prosecution.
The statement said there are 21 pending illegal mining cases involving more than 111 suspects who were arrested by officials of the Forestry Commission in forest reserves in the Region.
It said the cases are at various stages of prosecution at the Sekondi High Court 2 and Takoradi Circuit Court. The statement appealed to the judiciary in the Region to expedite action on all forest offence cases and a stern warning given for perpetrators to desist from illegal mining.
Source: GNA
