Sampa Crackdown: Joint Police-Military Operation Nets 24, Uncovers Weapons Cache

2026-03-22 - 00:02

A high-impact joint security operation in Sampa Township in the Bono Region has resulted in the arrest of 24 suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and suspicious items, in what authorities describe as a major breakthrough in the fight against illicit arms and organised crime. The operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, 2026, brought together personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the 3rd Infantry Battalion (3BN) of the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI). It was driven by intelligence gathered on the activities of suspected criminal elements within the enclave. According to an official statement from the Police, the exercise led to the retrieval of eight firearms—comprising five pump-action guns, one Baikal gun, and two locally manufactured weapons. In addition, 790 rounds of AAA and BB cartridges and one AK-47 round were seized. Security personnel also uncovered a range of items believed to be associated with violent and organised activity. These include 21 machetes, four bayonets, six knives, five clubs, and multiple pairs of black and desert boots. Of particular concern to investigators is the discovery of two foreign military jackets and two body armours—one without a metal plate—raising questions about possible impersonation or quasi-militant operations. Other items retrieved include eight motorbikes, a rickshaw, assorted mobile phones, tools such as pliers and a chisel, and a quantity of talismans. An official stamp bearing the inscription “Nana Samgba Gyafla II, President, Sampa Traditional Council” was also among the exhibits, a development likely to attract further scrutiny as investigations deepen. Cache of ammunition seized by security forces during a highly coordinated operation at Sampa. The suspects, whose ages range from 13 to 78, are currently in custody assisting with investigations. Two individuals—Sie Emmanuel and Mensah Kofi Emmanuel—were separately arrested for breaching curfew regulations imposed in the area. Police say processes are underway to arraign the suspects before court, as efforts intensify to dismantle networks linked to illegal arms possession and related criminal activities. The Bono Regional Police Command has, meanwhile, called on the public to support ongoing security operations by volunteering credible information that could lead to further arrests. The Sampa operation highlights a renewed, intelligence-driven approach by Ghana’s security agencies, as they tighten the net on the proliferation of weapons and emerging security threats across the country. For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z