The Ghana Police Service has announced the successful dismantling of a dangerous criminal network responsible for a series of violent bank robberies across multiple regions.
The operation, which culminated in the arrest of ten suspects and the death of three others, also led to the recovery of a significant arsenal of weapons and stolen property.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, September 24, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, attributed the success to a six-month, intelligence-driven investigation conducted under the directive 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,” stated Ms. Donkor.
The syndicate, believed to comprise approximately 15 individuals, has been linked to robberies in the Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti Regions.
The operation reached its climax when police engaged the group in a firefight, resulting in the deaths of three suspects. A manhunt is currently underway for the remaining members at large.
Among the items seized during the operation were:
- Firearms: Three AK-47 assault rifles, seven pump-action guns, three Bruni pistols, one M&P pistol, and one single-barrel gun.
- Ammunition: Over 140 rounds of assorted ammunition.
- Currency: Cash totaling GH¢18,845, $104, 190 Liberian dollars, ₦5,800, and CFA 31,000, along with a quantity of Ghanaian coins.
- Assets: Six vehicles, four motorbikes, and several mobile phones and pieces of jewellery.
A critical piece of evidence recovered was an AK-47 rifle, marked GH GP/ASH/TEPA/TP/B1523, which was confirmed to have been issued to Corporal Francis Adu Yaw of the Tepa District. The officer was tragically 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,” Director-General Donkor affirmed, linking the syndicate directly to the murder of the police officer.
The gang’s modus operandi was highlighted by a recent incident on Sunday, September 14, at approximately 3:30 a.m., when they stormed the Saint Martins De Porres Cooperative Credit Union. Armed with pump-action guns and AK-47 rifles, the suspects held a security guard and his wife hostage before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police later recovered a loaded AK-47 magazine at the scene.
