B/A Police arrest men with pistols

Sunyani, Jan. 6, GNA - The police in Brong Ahafo have arrested and placed in custody in Sunyani, two persons for possessing and allegedly manufacturing pistols locally.

Abdulai Amadu, 24, who was intercepted on January 1, this year with 14 pieces of the weapon and Saddick, who Amadu identified as the manufacturer, are assisting police in full investigations into the matter.

A statement from the Regional Police Headquarters signed by Inspector Christopher Tawiah, Public Relations Officer, said, "this is about the fourth time in three months the police in Dormaa Ahenkro in the region had arrested transporters and manufacturers of illegal weapons."

He said Amadu was arrested at about 1500 hours by police on barrier duties at Dormaa Ahenkro on board a Berekum- Sewhi-Yamaywa passenger bus. During a search on the bus the 14 pieces of the locally manufactured pistols, some with double muzzles were concealed in a luggage placed under a seat in the bus.

When the passengers were interrogated Amadu claimed ownership and said Sadick, a resident of Techiman was his supplier, the staterment said.

The statement said the police escorted Amadu to Techiman to trace Sadick, but the former could not assist the police.

Amadu was subsequently handed over to the Regional Police Command and during further interrogation, he led police to a workshop at Techiman where he identified Saddick, who however, identified himself as Owusu Kwabena aged 38 and a native of Effiduase in the Ashanti Region. Further police investigations had revealed that the manufacturing of the pistols was intended for sale to members of the public as well as in neighbouring countries, especially Cote d'Ivoire, the statement added.