Police arrest 16 suspects, recover 209 rounds of ammunition at Gbane mining site

By: Godbless Asaana‎
‎The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered 209 rounds of live ammunition, three firearms and other items during separate security operations at the Gbane mining site in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
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‎The development was announced in a press release issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Raman Sumaila. The operations were conducted on Tuesday, October 13, as part of efforts to maintain security at the mining site.
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‎According to the statement, a joint police team comprising personnel from the National Police Intelligence Directorate, the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Special Operations Team, popularly known as Black Cobra, and the Tongo District Police Command arrested 10 suspects during the first operation.
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‎Items retrieved from the suspects included 104 live AA cartridges, 37 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 12 mobile phones and seven security uniforms belonging to Nalamtaaba, a small-scale mining firm.
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‎The police also recovered seven body armours, two pepper sprays, four touch lights, a knife, a weapon bag and a set of walkie-talkies.
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‎In a related development, a military team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion arrested six additional suspects during a separate operation, recovering two pump-action guns and 105 live AA cartridges.
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‎The six suspects, together with the recovered items, were subsequently handed over to the police at Bolgatanga for further investigations.
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‎The combined operations bring the total number of suspects arrested to 16, with 209 rounds of live AA ammunition recovered alongside the two pump-action guns and other exhibits.
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‎The combined operations bring the total number of suspects arrested to 16, with 209 rounds of live AA ammunition recovered alongside the two pump-action guns and other exhibits.
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‎The operation comes amid security concerns at the Gbane mining site following tensions involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited.
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‎Although the police did not disclose the specific offences the suspects were suspected of committing, the Command said security patrols were continuing in the affected communities to maintain peace and order.
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‎The statement further indicated that all 16 suspects remained in police custody and were assisting with investigations. They are expected to be put before the court.
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‎The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects or established whether the recovered firearms and ammunition are connected to any specific security incident.
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