In a swift and coordinated operation, the Juaboso District Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old suspected armed robber, Maxwell Awuni, following an attempted robbery at a mining site near Sefwi Kofi Krom, close to Sefwi Proso in the Western North Region.
The arrest was made possible by the vigilance and rapid response of the Formed Police Unit (FPU), led by Inspector Ernest Adjetey, who was on routine patrol in a police vehicle (registration number GP 644) when a distress call alerted them to an ongoing robbery at the site.
Pursuit and Arrest
Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed five young men hiding in a nearby plantain plantation. When confronted, the suspects attempted to flee.
With the help of the complainant, the police pursued them, ultimately apprehending Mr. Maxwell Awuni, while the other four suspects managed to escape.
Awuni was taken into custody and, during interrogation, led the police to his residence in Sefwi Proso, where officers uncovered a stash of weapons and robbery gear hidden in a sack.
Weapons and Items Retrieved
The following items were seized from Awuni’s hideout:
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One Adler/Alpha pump-action gun
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Three single-barrel guns
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One locally manufactured pistol
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22 live BB cartridges
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2 live 9mm cartridges (stored in a black mini pouch)
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Two face masks
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One cutlass
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One hand glove
The cache suggests a well-prepared group, possibly involved in organized criminal activity targeting mining operations in the region.
Confession and Further Investigation
During interrogation, Awuni admitted that around 8:00 a.m. on the day of the arrest, he and his accomplices robbed a victim of gold concentrate (locally referred to as “black”) at the mining site.
He further disclosed that the group had planned another robbery at a nearby location.
He is currently in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.
The police have launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects, believed to be armed and dangerous.
Heightened Security in Mining Zones
This incident has raised concerns about the increasing threat of armed robbery at small-scale mining sites across parts of Ghana, where gold and other valuable resources make workers and operators frequent targets for criminal gangs.
The Juaboso District Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to maintaining security and has urged residents to report suspicious activities to help root out crime from local communities.
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