Burkinabe, 25-years nabbed for smuggling weapons into Ghana

A Burkinabe has been arrested in Ghana for the possession of a firearm.

The suspect attempted to smuggle the weapon into the country through Bolgatanga – Paga international trunk road.

However, a thorough search by a team of police personnel on their normal routine search at a snap checkpoint at Doba in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality discovered the hidden Buruni Mod.92 pistol parked in its case.

The suspect Surogu Mumuni aged 25 was onboard a Burkina – Accra bound Mercedes-Benz Articulated Track, attempted bolting into the bush but was apprehended by the police.

And upon arrest, he tried inducing the police with a cash sum of GHS 5000 through a middle-man. The police, therefore, feigned interest in the attempted bribery for purpose of evidence.

The suspect is currently in police custody while the investigation is underway.

In a statement issued by the Upper East Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, David Fianko-Okyere, it said, “Police deployment at the Doha-Kandiga Snap Check Point on the Bolga Navrongo International Trunk Road on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, acted swiftly to arrest suspect Surogu Mumuni a Bukinabe in possession of a Buruni Mod. 92 Pistol.”

“Suspect Suregu Mumuni age Twenty Nine (29) was on board a Bukina Faso Acera bound Mercedes Benz Articulated Truck with registration number 11HJ2758BF driven by Bennerd Mudah.”

The statement added that “During a vigorous search on the vehicle and its occupants the said suspect took to his heels, Police gave him a hot chase and apprehended him in the process, he was brought back to the search point and a search conducted in his presence revealed one Buruni Mod.92 pistol concealed in a bag he claimed ownership.”

Upon interrogation, the suspect claimed that the weapon was given to him by someone in Burkina Faso to be handed over to another person in Accra

Subsequently Suspect made a phone call to an unknown person to the Police in which after a while, a man in rasta hair arrived at the scene of the crime and propose to offer an amount of Fine Thousand Ghana cedis (GH 5000.00) for the case to be dropped.

According to the police, It feigned interest and the money was indeed sent to a nearby mobile money vendor for Police collection. After withdrawal, the Police re-arrested the suspect and brought him to the Regional Police Headquarters with the exhibits of Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢5000.00) and Buruni Mod.92 Pistol for investigation.

The statement further said, “Suspect Surogu Mumuni is in Police custody whilst exhibits involved are being retained for further investigation. Efforts are underway to arrest more suspects for further investigations”.

The general public as well as drivers and operators of lorry terminals (bookmen) have been entreated to be wary of such criminal practices and conduct random searches on persons and luggage at their terminals. They can also contact the nearest Police stations to assist in the searches to ensure persons dealing in illicit weapons are arrested and prosecuted to ensure security and safety in the Region.

Residents, especially, the people of the Upper East Region are assured of robust operational strategy including effective mobile patrols and Snap Cheeks intelligence operations to deal with the crime situation including violent crime and armed robbery, hence the call for residents to cooperate through information sharing leading to the arrested and prosecution of offenders.

Below is the statement from the Ghana Police Service

James Adombire, Upper East