Three men suspected to be members of a robbery syndicate have been arrested after guns and ammunition were found in a blacksmith workshop by police at Abuakwa on Thursday evening.

Officers acting upon intelligence report stormed the gun manufacturing workshop and searched the facility during which they discovered the arms and ammunition consisting of two AK47 rifles, 12 G3 rifles, 17 single and double-barrel guns, one pump-action gun, two pistols, 24 pieces of cartridges and 14 pieces of MM cartridges.

The police also retrieved five mobile phones from the suspects whose names were given as Richard Osei, 26, goldsmith; Daniel Akapo, 32, electrician and Iddrisu Issaka, 25, goldsmith.

Briefing the media over the arrests, DCOP Augustine Gyenning, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said other members of the group were on the run.

According to him, the police picked up intelligence that some suspected armed robbers, who could not contain the law enforcers’ clampdown on their activities, were looking for prospective buyers to sell arms and ammunition to.

The police, acting on the tipoff, feigned interest in the transaction and accordingly pledged through their undercover agents to do business with the robbers.

DCOP Gyenning said they found a large quantity of arms and ammunition when operational officers stormed the blacksmith workshop at Abuakwa.

He indicated that the discovery was made on Thursday evening when they arrested and searched the workshop.

The police chief stated that until their arrest, Daniel Akapo who claimed to be an electrician lived at Abuakwa while Richard Osei and Iddrisu Issaka, both goldsmiths were residents of Atwima-Koforidua and Abrem respectively. DCOP Gyenning concluded that the men, aged 32, 26 and 25 respectively had been taken to custody for questioning.

He called on members of the public to collaborate with the police by giving them credible and reliable information to ensure the arrest of miscreants to make our communities safer.

“We’re in battle with these people to make it more difficult for them to operate,” he underscored and accused citizens of their lack of commitment to deal with the criminal elements.