Nine members of the Blue Water Guards have reportedly been arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region over alleged bribery and impersonation.
The arrests were reportedly made on Friday, August 21, 2026, following allegations that the personnel collected bribes while presenting themselves as NAIMOS operatives.
An internal notice issued to members of the Blue Water Guards described the alleged conduct as a serious breach of professional standards and warned that it could undermine the credibility of the anti-illegal mining programme.
The notice stressed that Blue Water Guards personnel are not authorised to operate as or represent themselves as NAIMOS officials.
The development comes amid operational collaboration between NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards, who have previously participated in joint anti-illegal mining operations in the Ashanti Region.
Authorities have cautioned personnel to maintain professionalism and avoid conduct that could damage public confidence in the fight against illegal mining.
The allegations against the nine suspects have not been established in court, and it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed.
