Six Chinese nationals, including a female, have been remanded by the Kaneshie District Court for allegedly engaging in illegal mining at Asankragua in the Western Region.
The accused persons, whose pleas were not taken, are being held on six counts of possession of firearms without lawful excuse.
The police said, during the arrest, six pump action guns, cash in the sum of GH₵1,292,180.00, sandy substances suspected to be gold dust, a yellowish bar suspected to be a bar of gold, and liquid substances suspected to be mercury, were found with the suspects.
The police said some alleged narcotic substance suspected to be a narcotic plant was found on them. The Court presided over by Rosemond Agyiri, turned down a bail application by Defense Counsel, Baba Jamal, saying the court does not have the power to grant bail.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, who led the prosecution, opposed the bail application, saying investigations are underway and the six accused persons may hamper the process when granted bail.
The case, as narrated by ASP Asare, is that Intelligence Agencies picked up information sometime in April this year, that the accused persons, armed with weapons, were illegally mining at Asankragua in the Western Region.
Based on that information, a team of officers, in plain clothes and uniform, were dispatched to the scene to ascertain the facts. The prosecution said the team arrived at Asankragua and proceeded to the “Resort Holyday Hotel” and Xin Di Hotel and arrested them.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the accused persons were into buying, selling and refinery of gold without authority.
The Prosecution said they purchase and armed their employees with guns to protect their unlawful activities.
The case has been adjourned to June1, 2021.
