Five persons suspected to be manufacturing and supplying arms to criminals in Accra and other parts of the country have been arrested in a special operation mounted by the police. The arrest, which followed a six-month crime pattern analysis of armed robberies at Ashalley Botwe, Obojo, Agbogba and Ablor-Adjei, all suburbs of Accra, also resulted in the retrieval of 60 locally manufactured pistols from the suspects. The operation for the arrest of the suspects started from Madina in Accra to Kumasi and Kordie, near Ofinso in the Ashanti Region, and finally to Juabeso in the Western Region. The suspects are Stephen Anani, 50, and Jacob Kwarteng, 40, both blacksmiths; Salifu Abubakari, 42, and Daniel Dormena, 32, both farmers, and Prince Osei, 31, unemployed. Briefing the press in Accra yesterday, the Madina District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent David S. Eklu, said acting upon information that a syndicate of gun manufacturers had been supplying arms to criminals in Madina and other parts of the country, a team of 10 policemen was dispatched to Kumasi to investigate the allegation. He said the special operation lasted four days and was undertaken with support from the National Police Headquarters, the Accra Regional Police Command, as well as other police commands in the Ashanti and Western regions. According to him, the team's first stop was the Kejetia Lorry Station in Kumasi where Daniel Dormena was arrested when he was about to board an Accra-bound vehicle. He said a search conducted in Dormena's suitcase revealed 17 locally made pistols neatly wrapped and covered with some clothes. Chief Supt Eklu said upon interrogation, Dormena told the police that he was heading for Accra to supply the guns on request by someone who was yet to be apprehended. Dormena also told the police that the guns had been given to him by Salifu Abubakari, a resident of Sefwi-Juabeso, and led the police to where Salifu was arrested with 10 of the pistols concealed in a bag in his room. Salifu then mentioned Kwarteng, also known as assistant director, who lives at Offinso Kordie, as the manufacturer and supplier of the guns and he led the police to Offinso where Kwarteng was arrested. A search in Kwarteng's room revealed 25 guns concealed in one of the stuffing chairs in the room and he also led the police to arrest Anani, who had in his possession five guns in another house near the area. The Madina District Commander said an accomplice, Prince Osei, was also traced to a hideout at Kordie during the operation and he was also arrested. He said investigations were ongoing, after which the five suspects would be arraigned. Source: Daily Graphic