At least twenty five persons including other nationals are in the grips of the law for engaging in illicit gold trading, smelting and assaying.

The individuals consisting of four (4) indians and a number Ghanaians were arrested in two separate operations by the Ghana Gold Board in collaboration with operatives of the National Security at Dome Pillar 2 and Akweteyman- Achimota.

At a press conference in Accra, the deputy CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Richard Nunekpeku, ESQ stated that the first incident involved four (4)Indian nationals and a Ghanaian who were arrested while smelting gold and manufacturing jewelleries without license at a Jewellery shop in Dome Kwabenya.

Upon arrest, according the deputy CEO,the first accused and owner of Mahalaxmi Ghana Limited, one Bhaskar Jashu voluntarily opened a safe which contained the following exhibits: ¢22,670.00, 34 pieces of assorted rings and necklace.

The other items include; 22 pieces of rings, 50 pieces of rings, 2 pieces of cufflinks, 6 pieces of locket, 2 pieces of earrings amongst others.

The deputy CEO revealed that three 3 bars suspected to be gold which were retrieved from the safe were assayed and the report on the assay confirmed the bars to be gold with a market value of 453,032.73.

In the second incident, a total of twenty individuals were arrested at the premises of Legend Precious Metal Ltd located at Akweteyman-Achimota also in the Greater Accra Region.

Among them, seven are foreigners and thirteen Ghanaians.

During the arrest, the team retrieved 8 metals bars suspected to be gold which had been concealed in various parts on the premises of Legend Precious Metal.

The accused persons together with the exhibits were brought to the Offices of the Ghana Gold Board for investigations.

Further search revealed various legal documents including purchase and sale agreements for the trading of Gold between the accused persons as well as assaying reports and receipts.

Also, an amount of $112,500 and ¢64,014.00 were retrieved from various accused persons after they were searched.

The team also retrieved side arms from suspects Clement Agbaglo and Emmanuel McAddy at the time of the arrest.

The deputy CEO revealed that while some of the arrested persons were granted police inquiry bail, fourteen have been arraigned before the court on November 10.

“The attitude of these individuals are having a toll on the finance of this country, thus the Goldbod is keen on having all suspects interrogated and if found culpable, they will be prosecuted according to the law,” he said

He reiterate the state agency’s commitment to sanitize the gold trading industry by apprehending all smugglers while providing license to those interested in legitimately trading in the industry.