Eight suspected robbers arrested in Bono police crackdown

The Bono Regional Police Command says it has made major progress in its crackdown on armed robbery, arresting eight suspected members of notorious robbery syndicates and arraigning five of them after weeks of sustained intelligence-led operations across the region.

In a statement issued on Monday, December 8, the Command said the arrests form part of a targeted offensive against criminal gangs behind a series of robberies and organised crime incidents in the Bono and Ahafo regions.

The suspects, Johnson Amponsah Kwame Diawuo, 47; Shadrach Owusu, 25; Kwafo Samuel, 30; Latif Mustapha, 28; Mosby Owusu, 20; Kofi Iddrisa, 45; Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, 18; and Baba Kumi Foster, 35 were picked up at various locations during the operations.

One of the breakthroughs came after police foiled an attempted robbery on the Berekum–Drobo Road on November 18. Investigations later revealed that the attack was carried out by a five-member gang led by ex-convict Johnson Amponsah Kwame Diawuo. Two gang members, Kwafo Samuel and Shadrach Owusu, reportedly confessed and identified Amponsah as the mastermind behind the botched attack and several others in the Nkaseim enclave.

Police subsequently arrested Amponsah at his hideout in Nyamennae and retrieved quantities of Indian hemp, motorcycle helmets and machetes, which have been kept as exhibits.

In a separate intelligence-led operation in Berekum, police arrested Latif Mustapha, alias Star Boy, and Mosby Owusu at Domfete. Mustapha allegedly attempted to escape by hiding in a ceiling but was eventually taken into custody. A third suspect, 18-year-old Kwabena Agon Azubilla Akalotey, believed to be the original owner of a recovered pistol, was also detained.

A search of Mustapha’s room uncovered military camouflage uniforms, a toy Glock pistol, live ammunition, a taser, military boots, knives, talismans, laptops, suspected laced toffees and other items believed to be used in criminal activities. Police also found a Parabellum Model R-9 pistol loaded with two rounds of ammunition in Mosby Owusu’s room, which Mustapha allegedly sold to him for GH¢9,000.

Two additional suspects, Kofi Iddrisa and Baba Kumi Foster were arrested at Ewiakrom for allegedly receiving stolen motorcycles and tricycles smuggled into Côte d’Ivoire. Police recovered three motorcycles and a tricycle.

On Tuesday, December 2, Amponsah, Owusu and Samuel were arraigned before the Fiapre Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. They were remanded by Her Worship Akua Adoma Addae and are expected back in court on December 22.

On the same day, Mustapha and Mosby appeared before the Sunyani District Court B, where they were charged with illicit trafficking and possession of firearms and military uniforms without lawful authority. Presiding judge Her Worship Eric Daning remanded them to reappear on December 15. Meanwhile, Iddrisa and Foster were granted police enquiry bail pending further investigations.

The Bono Regional Police Command assured the public that it is intensifying efforts to track down remaining accomplices and recover all illegal weapons linked to the syndicates. It also appealed for credible information to support ongoing operations against criminal networks across the region.