Three Indian nationals have been arrested by the GoldBod Security Taskforce for their alleged involvement in an illegal gold smuggling operation in Kumasi.
The suspects Goutam Katriya, 35; Miraj Sarvaych, 22; and Manash Damani, 42—were apprehended at a private residence near Atinga Junction that had been converted into an illicit gold trading hub.
Operating under the name “Unique MM,” the trio allegedly purchased gold at black market prices with the intent to smuggle it out of the country.
Their arrest followed a tip-off from a whistleblower and comes as part of GoldBod’s aggressive clampdown on gold smuggling and non-compliant foreign operators in Ghana’s mineral sector.
Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, confirmed at a press conference in Accra that substantial evidence was seized during the raid.
This included GH¢1.9 million in cash, 4.5 kilograms of gold, 4,500 Indian rupees, an Indian passport, two money-counting machines, and a CCTV recorder.
Investigations revealed that the suspects lacked valid licenses to trade gold in Ghana and had operated in the country for over a decade without work or residence permits, nor any record of tax payments.
It was also uncovered that the registered Ghanaian shareholder of Unique MM, Musah Salifu, was merely a front for Katriya, who is believed to be the true beneficial owner of the operation.
The suspects were arraigned before the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, April 28, and have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance on May 12, 2025.
Meanwhile, the GoldBod has reiterated its directive that all foreign nationals involved in gold trading must exit the sector by April 30, 2025, and that all transactions must be conducted in Ghana cedis at the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.
The directive, backed by the newly enacted GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140), is aimed at curbing the economic impact of smuggling and tightening control over Ghana’s gold trade. “This arrest is just the beginning,” said Superintendent Alhassan, signaling a wider crackdown in the days ahead.
