Three Spaniards arrested in Atiwa for alleged involvement in Galamsey

The three Spaniards Abril Mayorga Sergio Gustavo 37, Cueva Herrera Marco Mauricio 34, and Aragon Prieto Gustavo 49 were arrested with their Ghanaian accomplice Nana Boateng Dateng 37, at a mining site.

Their arrest followed a complaint by one Yirenkyi Antwi to the Police that his land had been encroached upon by illegal miners.

The Eastern Regional Minister Ambassador Victor Smith issued a directive to Security Agencies in the region to clamp down on foreigners who engage in illegal mining activities which is becoming prevalent in the region.

Police narration of the issue revealed, Abril who was arrested while busily directing operators of some excavators being used in the illegal mining activities, “tried to escape upon seeing the Police Officers, however, luck eluded him when he tried to escape”.

The other Spaniards Cueva and Aragon, who were named as Abril’s accomplices, were also accosted by the Police when they visited Abril at the Police cells in disguise.

A passport with ninety days stay permit was found on Abril while a driver’s license issued by the Koforidua offices of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on 16th June 2011 and due for expiration on 16 June 2017 was also found on him.

A company called Pala De Oro Limited was also found to have been registered by the Spaniards with their Ghanaian accomplices to engage in export services, food production, agriculture, road and building construction, real estate and civil engineering.

Ambassador Victor Smith in a press briefing in his office after the arrest, issued a stern warning to Ghanaians encouraging foreigners in the illegal mining activities in the region, to desist from the practice because the Regional Security under his watch will not condone any form of lawlessness in the region.

It will be recalled that Mr Victor Smith upon assumption of office a couple of months ago, made known his determination to clamp down on all forms of lawlessness in the Eastern Region; the latest being the stopping of the people of Saamang in the Fanteakwa District from preventing a legally registered company from operating in the area.

The austere Regional Minister is also on record to have descended hard on some Funani herdsmen who allegedly raped, molested and in some cases murdered local Ghanaian farmers over grazing misunderstanding in the Kwahu areas of the Eastern region.

Why I love Nigerians–Yvonne Chaka Chaka

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