The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has intensified its fight against illegal mining, impounding nine excavators during a recent operation at the Airport Community in the Obuasi Municipality. The excavators were seized by a joint security task force acting on the directives of REGSEC to curb illegal mining activities and protect the environment. We later realised the illegal miners had sourced replacement parts and repaired the excavators," he said. The Deputy Regional Security Coordinator said the operation now extends beyond confiscating equipment to restoring the degraded landscape. We want to plant trees and protect the area so that illegal miners do not return," he added.