The Police Service and the Ghana Gold Board have launched a nationwide manhunt for four notorious gold smugglers believed to be part of a criminal network siphoning Ghana’s mineral wealth.
The wanted individuals have been identified as Abdul Karim, Sadique Abubakar, Muhammed Afsal Puth Puthalan, and Muhammed Nandoli Rafeeq.
At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, revealed that the four are part of a seven-member syndicate engaged in large-scale illegal gold smuggling.
He confirmed that three of their accomplices have already been arrested and are currently in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
To speed up their capture, authorities have announced a ₵1 million bounty on each fugitive.
“We have active arrest warrants for all of them. They are wanted by both the Police and the Gold Board. Anyone with credible information should immediately contact the nearest police station or the Gold Board headquarters. A reward of one million Ghana cedis has been placed on each of them,” Mr. Gyamfi stated.
The crackdown forms part of a wider government operation to dismantle gold smuggling cartels undermining Ghana’s economy and fueling illegal mining.
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