251 Criminals Arrested

Two hundred and fifty-one suspected criminals, 105 from Accra and 146 from Tema, were on Friday arrested in a joint military/police operation held simultaneously and aimed at flushing out armed robbers and social miscreants.
Between 5:00am and 9:00am, the joint team comprising 600 security personnel, 300 each from the police and military, made a swoop in areas known to be hideouts of criminals in Accra and Tema.
In Accra, the areas were Sukura, Korle-Bu, Kokomba market, James Town and Chorkor.
Among those arrested,15 people were in possession of large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, a couple at Sukura were found in possession of 144 Ghanaian passports, a woman had two rounds of AK 47 bullets, a multi-purpose holster and a mobile phone, another man was found with military accoutrements.
At Tema, the suspects were rounded up at the fishing harbour and the railway station. Most of them upon seeing the 140-man military/police team jumped into
the sea, whilst those who could not swim, threw Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs on them into the sea but were arrested.
Most of the suspects were described as petty criminals, Indian hemp smokers and pick-pockets by Mrs. Agnes Sika-Nartey, Assistant Commissioner of Police in-Charge of Tema.
Some of the suspects were found smoking Indian hemp or trading in it. A quantity of the hemp and some pipes allegedly used for sniffing cocaine were found on some of the suspects.
At a joint press briefing after the operation, Dr. Kofi Kesse Manfo, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander said all the suspects would undergo screening and those found guilty of offences would be prosecuted.
He said the exercise would continue till there is relative calm in the country.
He advised criminals to give up, saying, "the war on armed robbery is on and we will not relent until calm is brought to the country".
Brigadier Joseph Boakye Danquah, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces described the operation as successful.
He said the security agencies might not be able to flush out armed robbery completely, but they would ensure peace and stability in the country.
He said the war on armed robbery would be taken to the country's roads and highways and the security agencies would ensure that tax payers have peace of mind.
Brig. Danquah cautioned Ghanaians who collaborate with foreigners to commit crime in the country to be wary because when caught they would be dealt with severely. GNA