The Madina District Police Command, has arrested five persons for allegedly manufacturing local pistols in a special operation, which spanned three regions.
Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) David Eklu told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday that 60 pistols where retrieved after the four-day operation in Madina in the Greater Accra Region, Kumasi and Kodie near Offinso in Ashanti Region and Juabeso in Western Region.
He said the police acted on a tip off that a syndicate of gun manufacturers have been supplying arms to criminals in Madina and other parts of the country.
CSP Eklu said policemen from the Madina Command succeeded in arresting the five suspects whose names were given as Daniel Dormena; 32, Farmer, Salifu Abubakari; 42, Farmer, Jacob Kwarteng; 40, Blacksmith, Stephen Anane; 50, Blacksmith, and Prince Osei; 31, Unemployed.
He said the operation was the result of a six-month crime pattern analysis of armed robberies in Ashalley-Botwe, Ogbojo, Agbogba and Ablor-Adjei in the jurisdiction of the Madina District Command.
CSP Eklu said Dormena was arrested with a suitcase containing 17 pistols at Kejetia Lorry Station in Kumasi on Monday, February 15. Further investigations led to the arrest of Abubakari at Sefwi-Juabeso with 10 pistols on Tuesday, February 16.
The investigative team proceeded to Offinso-Kodie where Anane was arrested with five pistols while Kwarteng alias “Assistant Director” was apprehended with 25 pistols concealed in a stuffed chair in his room.
Osei, an accomplice was also arrested at Kodie during the operation.