The Ashanti Regional Police Command has appealed for public support and understanding, to sustain the on-going security operations launched to bring down crime in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Augustine Gyening, the Regional Commander, said their operations are likely to cause some inconveniences and urged the people to cooperate with the police.

He told a press briefing on Friday that the mounting of snap police barriers is proving effective and yielding dividends in the crime control.

He said on last Tuesday, for example, three suspected robbers were nabbed at a police barrier at Dakwadwom whilst on their way to raid a popular hotel in Kumasi.

He gave their names as Daniel Apusiba, alias “Buffalo” 18, Denis Kweku Acheampong, 21, an electrician, and Akwasi Asamoah, 18, a second year Senior High School (SHS) student.

They had engaged the services of a taxi driver to carry them to the hotel, but he became suspicious and alerted the police at the barrier.

A locally made pistol and live cartridges were found on them.

DCOP Gyening said another person, Collins Boadi Bonsu, 33, was arrested at the Golden Tulip trying to sell a foreign pistol at GH¢2,000.00.

Four blacksmiths, Kwadwo Dakasu, 50, Kwesi Dakasu, 45, Vincent Detse, 34, and Kwame Agbenato, 50, are also being held for illegally manufacturing firearms at different locations in the region.

The police, he said, retrieved from them 53 double barrelled guns, 42 single barrel guns, 12 AA cartridges, four locally made pistols, two imported revolvers and other blacksmithing equipment.

DCOP Gyening urged the people to provide them with useful leads to help rein in the miscreants.