The Police Anti-robbery squad deployed to curb increasing robbery cases in the Eastern Region has arrested 17 persons for unlawful possession of weapons.

The suspects were arrested in operation at Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Affram Plains North District.

The team retrieved several unregistered weapons, including a foreign pistol, three locally manufactured pistols, four single-barreled shotguns, and 17 machetes.

They also confiscated two daggers, 66 live AA and BB cartridges, 410 BB cartridges, ten 7.65 mm ammunition and 19 mobile phones.

Eastern Regional Police PRO, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the incident said the suspects are in the custody of the Donkorkrom District Police command, assisting with investigations.

He said the suspects will be arraigned after the police have concluded their investigations.

Since it began its operations, the Anti-robbery squad has, however, come under attack and accused of abuse of mandate.

Some angry residents of Donkorkrom in Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern region stormed the Donkorkrom Divisional Police Command over allegations of molestation and abuse by the Anti-robbery squad deployed by the acting Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akufo Dampare.

The angry residents were led by Kwahu Afram Plains North constituency treasurer for the NPP, Seth Kwabena Atuobi, who alleged that he was assaulted by the team and left with injuries resulting in his admission at Donkokrom Presbyterian hospital.

On August 17, the squad also came under attack by highway robbers on the Akyem Ettukrom to Bunso road.

The robbers reportedly wielding AK47 were on the road at dawn to rob commuters.

Upon seeing the Police Bus transporting the personnel from their operational areas, they opened fire on the ongoing bus.

The Police responded by firing back for few minutes before the robbers fled into the bush.

The Police combed the area but could not find the suspects; however, they retrieved five spent shells of AK 47 rifle at the scene.