The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered ammunition, action guns and suspected narcotic substances and other items during a security operation at the Gbane mining site in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region.
The operation, conducted last Tuesday, involved personnel from the National Police Intelligence Directorate, the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Special Operations Team, popularly known as Black Cobra, and the Tongo District Police Command.
In a press release issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit and signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Raman Sumaila, the police said 10 suspects were arrested during the police operation.
Seized items, more arrests
The items recovered included 104 live AA cartridges, 37 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 12 mobile phones, seven security uniforms of a small-scale mining firm known as Nalamtaaba, seven body armour, two pepper sprays, four touch lights, a knife, a weapon bag and a set of walkie-talkies.
In a related development, a military team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion arrested six additional suspects in a separate operation and recovered two pump-action guns and 105 live AA cartridges.
The six suspects, together with the recovered items, were subsequently handed over to the Police at Bolgatanga for further investigations.
The combined arrests bring the total number of suspects apprehended by the security personnel to 16 and ammunition to 209, while other items recovered form part of the exhibits being handled by the Police.
Gbane Mining
Although the press release did not provide further details about the specific offences, the operation forms part of security efforts at the Gbane mining site following tensions involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited.
It added that all 16 suspects were in police custody assisting with investigations and would be put before the court.
The Police said patrols were continuing in the affected communities to maintain peace and order.
The Police did not disclose the identities of the suspects or indicate whether the recovered weapons and ammunition were linked to any particular security incident.
