Four persons have been declared wanted by the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) for alleged offences such as gold smuggling and illegal gold trading.
They are Mr Sadique Abubakari, a Ghanaian believed to be in his 30s, Mr Abdul Karim, also a Ghanaian in his 30s, Mr Muhammed Afsal Puthalan and Mr Muhammed Nandoli Rafeeq both Indian nationals believed to be in their 40’s.
The GPS and GOLDBOD has, therefore, urged the general public with information on the whereabouts of these individuals to report to the nearest Police Station or the GoldBod Head Office.
Briefing journalists in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of GOLDBOD, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, said any person that would give information which would to lead to the arrest of any of those individuals would be rewarded with GH¢1 million.
According to him, the Board’s task force uncovered the most elaborate gold smuggling syndicate since its establishment, involving licensed traders, foreign nationals, and couriers who allegedly moved over 100 kilogrammes of the country’s gold worth more than GH¢100 million onto the black market within just two months.
He added that the task force intercepted the syndicate after weeks of discreet surveillance and intelligence work.
The CEO disclosed that the breakthrough came on August 27, 2025 when operatives intercepted a vehicle at Winneba Junction, arresting a Guinean courier, Abdul Razak Seidu.
“Razak was found with 9.2 kilogrames of gold valued at GH¢10.2 million. Laboratory tests confirmed the substance was indeed gold with 92.5 per cent purity. “
“Under interrogation, Razak confessed that he had been recruited by his cousin Abdul Karim to run errands for GH¢500 per trip. He admitted to making several trips from Tarkwa to Accra on behalf of licensed Gold Board trader Bernard Nkrumah, owner of NK Benak Enterprise,” he said
Mr Gyamfi explained that further investigations revealed that NK Bernak was supplying gold to Rafmoh Gold Limited, a company owned by Rafeeq Nandoli, alias “Salam,” which has been identified as the mastermind behind the syndicate.
Though not licensed by GoldBod, he said Rafmoh allegedly used couriers and front companies to illegally acquire and move gold across borders.
Mr Gyamfi confirmed that three suspects who were arrested, one Bernard Nkrumah, a Tier 2 licensed gold buyer of the GoldBod who operates in Tarkwa under the business name “NK Benark Enterprise” and one Ibrahim Aremeyaw, a key business associate of Rafmoh Gold Ltd and have been arraigned at the High Court.
He said the three suspects were charged with multiple offenses including facilitating gold smuggling, transporting gold without authorisation, and dealing in gold without approval.
“Arrest warrants have been secured for all four, with a GH¢1 million bounty placed on each of them,” he noted.
As part of enforcement measures, he disclosed that, the Board has suspended NK Bernak Enterprise’s license and closed its Tarkwa operations while Offices of Rafmoh Jewelry at Palace Mall in Accra, believed to have been used as conduits for smuggling, have also been shut down.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
