Ashanti Police arrest four for illegally manufacturing guns
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested four blacksmiths for unlawfully manufacturing arms to aid the operations of criminals in the region.
The four; Kwadwo Dakanu, 42 years, John Gadasu, 45, Vincent Detse, 34 and Kwame Agbemator, 50 were arrested at Fumso in the Adansi West District of the Region.
Addressing a news conference in Kumasi on Friday, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Augustine Gyening said a search conducted at the premises of the blacksmiths revealed 55 barrels, 42 single barrel guns, 12 ‘AA’ live cartridges, four locally made pistols, two foreign made revolvers, four butts and a quantity of blacksmith equipments.
The Ashanti Region has gained notoriety for recent acts of violence which has led to the death of about seven people.
DCOP Gyening revealed that “when we hit the blacksmith’s shops, they are supposed to repair them [the old cap guns], but they are not repairing them. They sold them off and use them in producing some of the locally manufactured pistols that the criminals use and that is why we have ceased all those cup guns and we’ve brought them here.”
According to him, the suspects have been arraigned before a court but complained about the manner in which the law deals with such crimes.
He said: “Our problem is that, the law makes that kind of offense, a misdemeanor and misdemeanor carries a light punishment; either a fine or a short prison term. But you will agree with me that all the problems we are having is because of these locally manufactured pistols in the wrong hands.”DCOP Gyening however gave the assurance that the Police would leave no stone unturned to apprehend all criminals in the Region.
Source: Citifmonline
