A police operation has resulted in the arrest of five suspects linked to a violent armed robbery at Velotop Co. Ltd, a heavy-duty machinery firm located in the Amenfi West Municipality.

The brazen attack, which unfolded on the evening of Thursday, 12th March 2026, saw a group of armed men storm the company premises at Malta, a suburb of Asankrangwa, around 7:20 p.m.

Brandishing pump-action shotguns, a pistol, and machetes, the gang held staff members hostage before making off with GHS 200,000 in cash. In a calculated move to secure their escape, the attackers handcuffed three Chinese nationals and locked them inside a room before fleeing in a black Toyota Voxy (registration GS 576-25).

Despite the gang’s head start, a rapid response from the Asankrangwa Police patrol team triggered a regional alert. The vehicle was tracked and eventually intercepted by officers at the Sumpre snap checkpoint along the Asankrangwa–Sefwi Bekwai road, leading to the immediate apprehension of four suspects.

A search of the vehicle yielded a substantial cache of evidence, including two pump-action guns, 14 AA cartridges, three pairs of handcuffs, CCTV decoders, and a haul of GHS 198,200 in cash, nearly the entire amount reportedly stolen.

Following further intelligence-led operations, a fifth suspect, 22-year-old Rashid Abdul, was flushed out from his hideout on Friday, 13th March 2026.

The other suspects have been identified as Issaku Ibrahim, 42; Fatau Ali, 25; Yahaya Mumuni, 26; and Emmanuel Antwi, 22.

Initial investigations suggest that the gang travelled from Obuasi specifically to target the company.

Authorities, however, believe the operation was not purely external. Police sources indicate that the gang was allegedly spearheaded by an accomplice residing in Asankrangwa, who managed to evade capture and is currently at large.

The Western Regional Police Command has ramped up efforts to track down the alleged ringleader and any remaining accomplices.

In a statement released on Friday, the Command maintained its hardline stance against such criminal activities:

“The Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to maintaining law and order and has urged members of the public to support the police with credible information to help combat crime.”