Joint security operation nets 24 suspects, weapons haul in Sampa

A joint security operation involving the Ghana Police Service and the military has led to the arrest of 24 suspects and the recovery of a cache of weapons at Sampa in the Bono Region.

According to a police press release, the intelligence-led operation was carried out in the early hours of March 21, 2026, in collaboration with the 3rd Infantry Battalion and the Bureau of National Intelligence.

The operation, which targeted criminal elements and the proliferation of illegal arms in the area, resulted in the seizure of eight assorted firearms. These included five pump-action guns, a Baikal gun and two locally manufactured weapons.

Security personnel also retrieved a large quantity of ammunition and other items, including 790 rounds of cartridges, machetes, bayonets, knives, clubs, military-style clothing, mobile phones, motorbikes and other equipment believed to be linked to criminal activity.

Police said the suspects, whose ages range from teenagers to elderly individuals, are currently in custody, assisting with investigations. Two of them were specifically arrested for breaching curfew regulations.

Authorities indicated that preparations were underway to prosecute the suspects, while efforts continued to track down and arrest any remaining accomplices.

The Bono Regional Police Command has called on the public to support ongoing operations by volunteering credible information to help rid the region of illegal arms and criminal activity.