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EIGHTEEN young men have been arrested by the Obuasi Divisional Police Command for engaging in illegal gold mining activities at the underground mine of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) in the Obuasi Municipality. The suspects were arrested at about 2:00am yesterday at Co�dore ramp, a few metres from Anwiam community in the concession of AGA after spending about two weeks underground, the Obuasi Divisional Police Commander told DAILY GUIDE. ACP Kofi Dwumfour Berchie said the illegal miners linked to explosive-throwing gang arrested last two weeks, owned up and surrendered for arrest after their inability to escape. The 18 people arrested at the Co�dore ramp area were Akwasi Nyarko, 18; Kwadwo Appiah, 19; Kwadwo Antwi, 24; Kwame Sowa, 34; Gamel Abitorem, 22; Richard Ofori, 20 and Kojo Opoku. Others were Bicalis Tulosong, 23; Jonas Issaka, 24; Kwaku Frafra, 26; Kofi Osei, 34; Kwadwo Danso, 33; Kwaku Afoakwa, 34; Kwaku Fianin, 29; Yaw Baah, 22; Kofi Nii, 18; Enoch Appiah, 30 and Kwadwo Anokye, 29. ACP Berchie narrated that the police officers and AGA security operatives arrived deep in the night at the area and found the galamsey operators coming out of a tunnel dug to link the underground shaft. The police chief said the arrestees indicated that many of their colleagues were still underground. According to the police commander, his men conducted the operation to flush out the miscreants after the owners of the concession drew the attention of the police to the havoc being caused by the illegal miners. He said the team mounted the operation around 1:00am at Co�dore, where the galamsey operators normally dug tunnels to link the underground mine shaft of AGA to prospect for gold. He said those arrested had been sent to the Regional Police Headquarters in Kumasi for the next action to be taken.