A breakthrough has been recorded in the fight against highway robbery in the Ashanti Region, as the Ghana Police Service arrested 12 suspected members of a robbery syndicate believed to be behind a string of violent attacks.
The arrests followed nearly two months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, leading to coordinated operations across Offinso, Nkenkaasu, Akomadan, Techiman, Chiraa and Sunyani.
The exercise was carried out with support from the Police Intelligence Directorate in Accra.
Speaking at a media briefing in Asante Mampong, Ashanti North Regional Commander, Felix Apedo, said the suspects include known offenders and individuals already facing criminal charges.
Some had previously been convicted, while others were on bail or had escaped from custody.
Police retrieved a cache of weapons believed to have been used in the attacks, including locally manufactured guns, ammunition, cutlasses, knives and a sword.
Several mobile phones suspected to belong to victims were also recovered, along with clothing believed to have been used during the robberies.
Investigations have linked the group to multiple attacks, including a dawn robbery on the Nsuta to Hwidiem road, where motorists were robbed of large sums of money and personal belongings.
In another incident, a passenger bus was ambushed, leaving two women with gunshot wounds.
One suspect reportedly hesitated to join a robbery due to fasting but later accepted a share of the proceeds, highlighting the level of coordination within the group.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest the two remaining suspects, while urging the public to volunteer credible information to support crime-fighting efforts.
