The Volta Regional Police Command arrested three individuals in Hohoe following the discovery of an unlicensed AK 47 assault rifle and matching ammunition. According to reports from the Ghana News Agency the tactical interception occurred during a routine stop and search operation conducted by police officers stationed in the region.
Police investigators stated that the firearm was concealed within the chassis of the vehicle used by the suspects. A report by Graphic Online indicates that the weapon was accompanied by several rounds of ammunition which were seized as evidence for the ongoing investigation into the matter.
During preliminary interrogations the suspects allegedly claimed that the weapon was being transported for use in an ongoing chieftaincy dispute. This detail was first reported by the Ghana News Agency and is currently being treated as a lead by the Ghana Police Service as they seek to identify the intended recipients of the rifle.
The three suspects remain in police custody while the Volta Regional Police Command processes them for court. Officials have not yet released the names of the individuals involved but confirmed to Citi Newsroom that they face charges related to the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Ghana Police Service has cautioned the public against the illegal movement of weapons and reiterated its commitment to maintaining security in areas prone to communal conflicts. Further forensic tests are being conducted on the seized rifle to determine if it has been used in prior criminal activities in the Volta Region.