Police have arrested eight individuals, including the son of a municipal chief executive, for allegedly posing as national security operatives to rob illegal miners in Assin Awisam, Central Region.

The suspects arrived in the community on Friday afternoon using a black Mitsubishi pick-up (GS 8293-18) and a Toyota Voxy, subsequently seizing an unspecified quantity of gold, cash and mobile phones from local miners.

Frustrated by what they described as persistent extortion, residents confronted the uniformed group and attempted to lynch them.

After deflating the tyres of the suspects’ vehicles, community leaders intervened to restore order and handed the men over to the Awisam police.

The situation remained volatile as an irate mob besieged the local station, forcing the Assin North Regional Police Command to deploy reinforcements to secure the suspects and transfer them to Assin Foso.

During initial interrogations, the suspects admitted to taking mobile phones but denied any involvement in the theft of gold.

George Anokye, a local youth leader, stated that this group has a history of harassing the community under the guise of state security.

He cited a 2025 incident where the group allegedly extorted GH¢120,000 from a miner named Seidu before burning his water pumping machine when further demands were not met.

According to the police, all the eight suspects remain in custody while investigations continue into these repeated reports of fraudulent anti-galamsey operations.