Ghana Disables Six Excavators and Seizes Shotguns in Illegal Mining Raid
Authorities in Ghana, India, Vietnam and Pakistan conducted separate operations this week that disabled illegal mining equipment, disrupted a diamond smuggling ring, busted a diesel theft network and issued death threats against Bollywood actor Aamir Khan by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Ghana Anti-Galamsey Raid
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat carried out an intelligence-led operation at a site along the headwaters of the Subin River in Ahwiren in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region. [1] The NAIMOS Manso-Adubia Team conducted the raid between 4:30 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. on July 17, 2026. [1] Officers disabled six excavators by removing five monitors and four control boards from five of the machines and seized two excavator ignition keys. [1] The team destroyed four pumping engines by setting them ablaze. [1] During a search, operatives recovered two Adler pump-action shotguns together with 19 rounds of ammunition. [1] The illegal miners had blocked the natural watercourse of the Subin River and created a diversion to facilitate mining on approximately 20 acres of farmland. [1]
Community and Environmental Concerns in Ashanti Region
Sections of the Ahwiren community expressed dissatisfaction with the mining activities, citing the destruction of water bodies and the site's proximity to the main road. [1] Residents raised concerns that continued mining at the headwaters of the Subin River could have long-term environmental consequences for the area. [1] The operation took place approximately 50 metres from the Ahwiren-Bekwai main road. [1] Further investigations established that although the operators had submitted an application under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Environmental Development Scheme, they had not yet received approval to commence operations. [1] The location where mining was taking place did not correspond with the coordinates contained in their application. [1] The operators had established offices within the community yet maintained that they were not engaged in illegal mining. [1]
Death Threats Against Aamir Khan by Bishnoi Gang
Following threats to Salman Khan, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan became the latest target of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. [2] In a social media post and an audio clip, gangsters Aarzoo Bishnoi and Tyson Bishnoi issued severe threats against the actor. [2] The gang alleged that Khan and others were promoting "love jihad" in the country and declared that such actions would not be tolerated. [2] The post explicitly threatened to "choke the breath" of anyone using their stardom to promote these alleged acts. [2] The post also highlighted a crime recently committed against an innocent young girl in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. [2] The gang issued a direct ultimatum to politicians allegedly shielding some of the culprits and warned that if these political figures did not cease their interference, they would face the same brutal consequences intended for perpetrators who escape the law. [2] The post paid tribute to two deceased associates, Parvesh and Himshu, referring to them as martyrs and vowing that their sacrifice would not go in vain. [2]
Vietnam Diamond Smuggling Case
A 30-year-old Indian courier named Shaileshkumar Hareshbhai Prajapati smuggled 1,477 diamonds into Vietnam across five undeclared trips. [3] Customs officers seized 715 stones on his final flight at Tan Son Nhat airport on October 23, 2024. [3] An appraisal put the value of the seized diamonds above VND6.84 billion ($260,000), identifying 503 as natural and 212 as synthetic lab-grown CVD stones. [3] Prosecutors indicted three others alongside Prajapati: Nguyen Thi Linh, 54, for smuggling and offering bribes; Ly Thi Ngoc Bich, 47, for fraud; and Bich's older sister, Ly Thi Ngoc Nga, 49, for brokering bribery. [3] The operation was directed by Indian businessman Shah Hemantkumar Sureshkumar, known as Sunny, who runs a firm called Nsh & Co. [3] Prajapati cleared about VND72 million ($2,740) from the scheme while Linh cleared about VND50 million ($1,900). [3] After Prajapati's arrest, Linh gave Bich VND1.2 billion ($45,600) to secure his release or reduce liability, but Bich spent VND150 million ($5,700) on a lawyer, hid the rest, and did nothing further. [3]
Pakistan Diesel Theft Network Dismantled
The Federal Investigation Agency, in a joint operation with Pakistan State Oil, busted a network stealing diesel from PSO’s main pipeline near Sihala and arrested two suspects red-handed. [4] The raid was conducted near Jump Stop, Bhaga Sihala. [4] The suspects had set up an organised network to tamper with the PSO-ARL Sihala pipeline through an illegal underground secondary pipeline. [4] The fuel was transferred into oil drums and sold on the black market. [4] The illegal network had been operational for the last five to six months, with approximately 20,000 litres of diesel extracted daily. [4] PSO’s initial estimate placed the loss to the national exchequer at over Rs100 million. [4] During the operation, officials seized the illegal pipeline along with two Shehzore pickups loaded with multiple drums and tanks filled with oil. [4]
Ongoing Investigations
The FIA said the investigation would determine the role of other individuals involved in the network and any government officials. [4] Shah’s case has been separated from the Vietnam trial because authorities have not yet received the results of a mutual legal assistance request to confirm his identity and background. [3] NAIMOS indicated that the latest Ghana operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to intensify the fight against illegal mining in environmentally sensitive areas. [1]
What to watch next: Further probes will examine additional suspects and government officials in the Pakistan diesel theft case while the Vietnam trial proceeds on July 30 with one defendant’s case already separated pending mutual legal assistance results.
