Three suspected gold smugglers arrested by Goldbod security task force

Three suspected gold smugglers have been arrested by the GoldBod Security Taskforce.

The suspects are Goutam Katriya, 35, Miraj Sarvaych, 22, and Manash Damani, 42. All three are Indian nationals involved in gold trading in Kumasi and Accra. They operated under the company name Unique MM, allegedly owned by Musah Salifu.

The suspects were arrested at a private residence near Atinga Junction in Kumasi. This location had been turned into an illegal gold trading center. Their arrest followed a tip-off from a whistleblower who reported their activities.

After their arrest, the suspects appeared before the Achimota Circuit Court on April 28. They were remanded into custody for two weeks.

At a press conference on April 29, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan shared details of the operation. He revealed that significant evidence was recovered during the arrests. This included GH¢1.9 million, 4,500 Indian rupees, and 4.363 kilograms of gold.

Also seized were two counting machines, a CCTV recorder, and an Indian passport. Preliminary investigations showed that none of the suspects had valid licenses to buy or trade gold in Ghana.

The three men have reportedly worked in Ghana’s gold sector for over ten years. They could not provide evidence of residence permits or tax payments.

Further investigation revealed that Musah Salifu is merely a front for Goutam Katriya. Katriya is believed to be the true owner and controller of Unique MM.

Chief Superintendent Alhassan warned against violating Ghana's Gold Board Act and other laws related to gold trading. He stated that this arrest marks the start of GoldBod’s fight against illegal gold trading and smuggling.

He noted that these suspects smuggle gold through unapproved border points into India. This activity harms the Ghanaian economy significantly.

GoldBod is still gathering intelligence on other illegal traders and smugglers for future action. The suspects will remain with the National Intelligence Bureau until their next court appearance on May 12, 2025.

GoldBod has reiterated its directive for all foreigners in gold trading to exit by April 30, 2025. It also mandated that all transactions be conducted in Ghana cedis at the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.

A press release from GoldBod on April 23 stated that any violations would be punishable under the GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140).