The Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, has disclosed that ten suspects currently in custody for alleged involvement in a series of rural bank robberies will be put before the court as soon as possible.
According to her, “All the suspects are in custody and will be put before the court while efforts are intensified to get those at large arrested,” she said during media engagement on Wednesday.
COP Donkor said that a total of 15 individuals have been tied to the offences, which took place in regions including Ashanti and Central.
She disclosed, of that number, two remain at large, while three were shot dead in exchanges of fire with the police.
The ten suspects arrested have reportedly confessed to their roles in the robberies on various dates.
“From investigations so far, I can report that some of the suspects, upon interrogation, have confessed to their involvement in the robberies,” she noted.
According to Lydia Yaako Donkor, the items seized include a wide range of weapons and valuables from the gang, including:
- 3 AK-47 assault rifles
- 1 single-barrel gun with 1 AAA ammunition
- 7 pump-action guns with 96 rounds of AAA ammunition
- 3 Bruni pistols with 40 rounds of ammunition
- 1 M&P pistol with 4 rounds of ammunition
- Cash of GH¢18,845, $104, 190 Liberian dollars, ₦5,800, and CFA 31,000
- A quantity of assorted Ghanaian coins
- 6 vehicles and 4 motorbikes
- Several mobile phones and jewellery
Briefing the media on Wednesday, September 24, Ms Donkor said the discovery was made after six months of sustained intelligence operations under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police.
“Through sustained intelligence operations, the Ghana Police Service has successfully dismantled the notorious criminal syndicate who have been behind several robberies in various regions of the country,” she stated.
The syndicate, believed to be made up of about 15 members, has carried out robberies in the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern and Ashanti Regions. Police have so far arrested 10 suspects, while three others were shot dead in a gun battle. A manhunt is ongoing for the rest.
One of their recent attacks happened at 3:30 am on Sunday, September 14, when they stormed the Saint Martins De Porres Cooperative Credit Union armed with pump-action guns and AK-47 rifles. The gang held the security guard and his wife hostage before escaping with cash. Police recovered a loaded AK-47 magazine at the scene.
Ms Donkor confirmed that one of the AK-47 rifles retrieved had originally been issued to the Ghana Police Service. The weapon, marked GH GP/ASH/TEPA/TP/B1523, belonged to Corporal Francis Adu Yaw of the Tepa District, who was killed by armed robbers on the Bibiani-Goaso highway on November 29, 2024.
“This is an indication that this same gang committed that heinous crime,” she added.
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