In a joint operation led by National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul Osman, six Indian nationals were arrested for engaging in illegal gold trading across two regions in Ghana.
Three suspects were apprehended in Enyinam, Eastern Region, and the other three at Adiembra in the Ashanti Region.
The high-stakes operation led to the confiscation of thousands of cedis, hundreds of gold bars, and money-counting machines, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against unregulated gold trade.
Speaking at a press briefing on May 14, 2025, at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, Prince Minkah, Media Relations Officer of the Ghana GoldBod, confirmed that the suspects will face legal action.
“But for the latest bust which has occurred, for them they will face the full rigours of the law,” he stated, adding that the second batch of foreigners arrested after the April 30 deadline will be prosecuted in court, unlike the first group who will undergo deportation procedures.
He emphasized that the confiscated items are now in state custody and reiterated that foreign involvement in local gold trade is prohibited.
DCOP Abdul Osman further revealed that some Ghanaians were complicit, having lent their identities to help the foreigners register companies, thereby evading taxes and hiding ownership.
He assured that these local collaborators will not escape justice. This crackdown follows the enforcement of a GoldBod directive issued on May 1, 2025, banning foreigners from engaging in local gold trading unless officially licensed to purchase directly from the Ghana GoldBod.