Josiah
The GoldBod Security Taskforce has arrested three Indian nationals suspected of engaging in illegal gold trading and smuggling operations in Ghana.
The suspects — Goutam Katriya (35), Miraj Sarvaych (22), and Manash Damani (42) — were apprehended at a private residence near Atinga Junction in Kumasi, which had reportedly been converted into an unauthorized gold trading hub. The trio operates under Unique MM, a company allegedly owned by a Ghanaian national, Musah Salifu.
According to authorities, the arrest followed a tip-off from a whistleblower who reported that the suspects were purchasing gold at black market rates for the purpose of smuggling it out of the country.
The suspects were arraigned before the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, April 28, and have been remanded into custody for two weeks, pending further investigations.
At a press briefing in Accra, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, revealed that security personnel retrieved the following items during the raid:
-
GHS 1.9 million,
-
4,500 Indian rupees
-
4.363 kilograms of gold
-
Two currency counting machines
-
A CCTV recorder
-
An Indian passport
Preliminary investigations show that none of the suspects possess valid licenses to trade in gold within Ghana. Despite reportedly operating in the country for over a decade, they have failed to provide evidence of residency permits, work permits, or tax payment records related to their business activities.
Further inquiries indicate that Musah Salifu, listed as the owner of Unique MM, is merely a front for Goutam Katriya, who is believed to be the actual beneficial owner and operator of the company.
Chief Superintendent Alhassan issued a stern warning to both local and foreign actors in the gold trade, urging strict adherence to the Ghana Gold Board Act and other relevant regulations.
“This arrest marks the beginning of GoldBod’s uncompromising crackdown on illegal gold trading and smuggling. Intelligence shows that these individuals were smuggling gold through unapproved border points into India — an act with severe implications for the Ghanaian economy,” he stated. “We are monitoring several other illegal operations and will act swiftly.”
The suspects will remain in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) until their next court appearance on May 12, 2025.
In a related development, the GoldBod has reiterated its directive for all foreign nationals involved in the gold trade to exit the sector by April 30, 2025. Additionally, all gold transactions are now mandated to be conducted in Ghana cedis at the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.
Any breach of these directives constitutes a punishable offense under the GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
Source:Omanghana.com
