Some 13 alleged National Security operatives, have been arrested at Konongo in the Ashanti Region. The syndicate is said to have been illegally operating within the Atiwa enclave, extorting money from small-scale miners.

This is the second time that alleged National Security operatives have been arrested over Galamsey activities.

At least, some 19 persons who claim to be national security operatives were in May 2021 apprehended by the police in the Eastern Region for illegally mining gold in the Atiwa forest reserve.

According to the report, around 12:00pm on Friday, a police patrol team blocked a section of the Kumasi-Konongo high way to halt a speeding Land Cruiser, said to be occupied by the supposed National Security operatives, a upon a tip-off that some people from National Security had been operating in some mining communities in the Bosome Freho District.

There was an ensuring stand-off, when the men were eventually acousted. Six of them were dressed in military uniforms albeit, with suspicion due to non-conform military mannerisms.

“The soldiers" among them initially wanted to resist arrest, who even threatened to strip the police commander of his rank, because "they were reporting to a higher authority.”

A single barrel rifle gun, and some gold-looking metal stones were retrieved from them.

Reports say that the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, also came around soon before the men were taken to the 4th Infantry Battalion in Kumasi.

The arrest at the time brought to 65 the number of persons who claim to be members of the state security, who are either in military or police outfits, claiming to be national security officers, involved in illegal mining in the Eastern Region.

They have all been handed over to the police for further action.