By Rachel Quartey
The GoldBod Security Taskforce has arrested three suspected gold smugglers.
The suspects, Goutam Katriya, 35; Miraj Sarvaych, 22; and Manash Damani, 42, are Indian nationals involved in gold trading in Kumasi and Accra for Unique MM, a company allegedly owned by Musah Salifu.
The arrests were made at their private residence in Kumasi, which served as a gold trading center, following a tip-off from a whistleblower about suspected gold smuggling activities.
The suspects were arraigned before the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, April 28, 2025, and remanded into custody for two weeks.
At a media conference in Accra, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, disclosed that the suspects were found in possession of GHC 1.9 million, 4,500 rupees, 4.363 kilograms of gold, two counting machines, a CCTV recorder and an Indian passport.
Preliminary investigations by National Security so far revealed that none of the suspects had a valid license to purchase or deal in gold in Ghana.
The suspects, who have been dealing in gold in Ghana for over a decade, have not been able to produce any residence permits, work permits, or tax payment records for their business operations.
Additionally, it has been revealed that Musah Salifu, a Ghanaian alleged to be the sole shareholder of Unique MM, is merely a front for Goutam Katriya, the actual beneficial owner and alter ego of the company.
Chief Superintendent Alhassan cautioned against violating the Ghana Gold Board Act and other laws governing the country’s gold trading sector.
“This arrest is only the beginning of GoldBod’s ruthless war against illegal gold trading and gold smuggling. We know that the arrested suspects smuggle gold through unapproved border points into India. This has serious negative consequences for the Ghanaian economy. We are still gathering intelligence on several illegal gold traders and smugglers. And very soon, we shall take necessary action,” he said.
The suspects are expected to reappear in court on May 12, 2025.
In a related development, the GoldBod has reiterated its directive for all foreigners in the gold trading sector to exit the market by April 30, 2025. All persons dealing in gold have also been directed to trade in Ghana cedis and at the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate.
A breach of this directive shall constitute a punishable offense under the GoldBod Act, 2025 (ACT 1140). This was contained in a Press Release issued by the GoldBod dated 23 April, 2025.
