A joint operation by National Security operatives has led to the arrest of three Chinese nationals and a Ghanaian accomplice suspected of engaging in illegal mining along the Pra River near Supom-Dunkwa in the Shama District of the Western Region.

The suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, were reportedly operating under the guise of sand-winning. They have since been handed over to the Western Regional Police Command in Sekondi for further investigations.

Hashem Tankonu, a National Security officer who led the operation, revealed that illegal miners have been disguising their activities to evade detection.

“Behind the house at the corner, there is a galamsey set up there that you see that they are doing galamsey but if you are not smart, you will be fooled by that facade of sand winning.

“But then in actual terms, they are doing the sand winning and they are doing the galamsey alongside the sand winning and you will not suspect it,” he explained.

Authorities say further investigations will be conducted to determine the extent of the illegal mining activities and the network involved.