Galamsey Fight: NAIMOS raids Aboso, arrests illegal miners at infamous 'Gangway' hideout

Some of the illegal miners apprehended by NAIMOS

Tue, 7 Oct 2025 Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has dismantled a notorious galamsey hideout at Aboso in the Western Region, popularly known as the ‘Gangway’.

The hideout, long a haven for hardened illegal miners, was raided by the taskforce in a massive intelligence-led operation on Monday, October 5, 2025.

The operation led to the destruction of numerous makeshift structures that had been used as drug bases within the heavily crime-infested enclave in the Prestea-Huni Valley District.

In addition to demolishing the structures, the team seized multiple pieces of equipment used by illegal miners in their ongoing environmental destruction.

During the swoop, several locals involved in illegal mining, gambling, drug abuse, and narcotics trading surrendered to the NAIMOS taskforce. Several packs of hard drugs were also recovered, including eleven (11) parcels of Indian hemp.

Earlier in June, the NAIMOS taskforce had conducted a similar operation in the same area, warning criminal gangs to vacate the ‘Gangway’ hideout.

Repeated calls by the chiefs and people of Aboso had been ignored by illegal miners and other miscreants, who continued to engage in unlawful activities.

The latest operation is expected to restore sanity to the community and curb the persistent illegalities in the enclave.

In a related development, the NAIMOS taskforce also carried out an operation along the Daren-Domping areas in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region. Conducted en route to the Gangway hideout, the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining across the region.

In total, fifteen (15) water-pumping machines and one generator set were seized, while three changfans and several makeshift structures were destroyed during both operations.

The taskforce says it will continue operations in the Western Region and other galamsey hotspots as part of the government’s renewed fight against illegal mining.