Immigration Officer arrested over illegal arms trade

An Assistant Control Officer of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Richard Atiso, has been arrested, and is being held by the Police in Kumasi, over alleged illegal arms trade.

He was arrested together with one Kwasi Denyira, a shoemaker, at Obuasi on Wednesday, January 14.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwaku Ampofo Duku, Deputy Ashanti Regional Commander, told a press briefing in Kumasi that, they received information that Denyira had put a pistol on sale at Obuasi.

ACP Duku said undercover officers sent to see him feigned interest in buying the fire arm, and the suspect promised to contact his brother Atiso, who was in possession of the weapon.

ACP Duku said a meeting was later arranged with Atiso, where he agreed to sell the Italian-made pistol with 24 pieces of 9mm live ammunition at GH¢4,000.

As he brought out the gun, the two were arrested and a search conducted in Atiso’s Toyota Corolla saloon car uncovered additional six pieces of 8mm ammunition used by an entirely different weapon.

He said they believe the suspects have different brand of pistols and ammunition as different kinds of ammunition were found on them.