Galamsey Kingpin Arrested in Bonsu After Attempt to Bribe Investigators
Security operatives have arrested a notorious illegal mining operator, Iddrisu Zakari, popularly known as “Yaayaa,” during a sting operation in Bonsu, Eastern Region, after he allegedly attempted to bribe investigators to obstruct an ongoing probe into his activities.
According to officials from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Zakari’s arrest took place on Monday, November 10, 2025, around 6:06 p.m., following weeks of intelligence surveillance. NAIMOS officers had arranged a meeting with the suspect after he persistently sought to negotiate the release of his arrested accomplices and halt investigations into his galamsey operations.
Sources familiar with the case told Adom News that Zakari had been under close watch after his mining site in the Osino Residential Area was raided last week. That operation led to the arrest of 36 suspected illegal miners, including 32 Nigeriens and four Ghanaian guards armed with machetes. The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated dawn operation targeting galamsey hotspots along the Birim River.
During the sting operation, Zakari reportedly offered an undisclosed cash amount, alleged to be part of a GH¢100,000 bribe, to secure the release of his detained associates and suppress evidence linking him to illegal mining activities. However, the move backfired as undercover operatives swiftly arrested him at the scene.
He has since been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.
The arrest forms part of an intensified crackdown by NAIMOS on illegal mining activities in the Eastern Region. Officials said the operation aims to dismantle well-established networks involved in environmental degradation, river pollution, and tax evasion.
A senior NAIMOS officer, speaking anonymously, said: “We are sending a clear message that no one is above the law. Attempts to bribe investigators or interfere with justice will be met with the full force of the law.”
Meanwhile, community leaders in the Fanteakwa South District have commended security agencies for their swift action, describing Zakari’s arrest as a major breakthrough in the fight against illegal mining. Residents say the suspect had operated several unauthorized sites over the past few years, causing severe damage to local farmlands and water bodies.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) are expected to collaborate with the police and NAIMOS to ensure a comprehensive prosecution of the suspects.
The case has also reignited calls for stricter enforcement of anti-galamsey laws and stronger oversight of local authorities accused of shielding illegal miners.
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