The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has revealed the arrest of approximately 10 Chinese nationals involved in illegal gold trading activities in Asankragwa, located in the Western Region of Ghana.
Gyamfi painted a vivid picture of how these foreigners have turned private homes and even hotels into secret gold trading hubs.
“They were hiding in a private residence and the were actively buying gold to smuggle out of Ghana,” he explained, highlighting the brazen nature of their operations.
Speaking to the press, Gyamfi emphasized that these foreigners have been covertly operating illegal gold trading facilities within their homes and other establishments.
“No foreigner is authorized to sell gold to GoldBod or its aggregators. Therefore, their only option is to smuggle the gold out,” he stated.
This operation follows a recent press conference where Gyamfi reiterated the new licensing regime that prohibits foreigners from trading in gold in Ghana.
Within 48 hours of that announcement, intelligence from informants led the GoldBod task force to uncover the group of Chinese nationals hiding in Asankragwa.
The task force, currently operating on an ad hoc basis alongside the National Security Secretariat and yet to be formally inaugurated, conducted a covert raid under the cover of darkness.
Gyamfi stressed that the raid resulted in the “arrest of all 10 suspects and the seizure of approximately 1.3 kilograms of gold valued at nearly GH¢1.4 million (14 billion old cedis).”
Additionally, the authorities confiscated over GH¢1.3 million in cash and numerous casino cards, which the suspects reportedly use to launder proceeds from their illicit activities.
Gyamfi revealed a fascinating detail about the suspects’ money laundering tactics, “They convert their illicit proceeds into casino cards, which they store in large sieves. These cards appear to be highly valuable and critical to their operation.”
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
