Police arrest 16 suspects, seize 209 rounds of ammunition at Gbane mining site

The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered 209 rounds of ammunition, two pump-action guns and suspected narcotic substances during security operations at the Gbane mining site in the Talensi District.

The arrests followed a police operation on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, involving personnel from the National Police Intelligence Directorate, the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Special Operations Team, popularly known as Black Cobra, and the Tongo District Police Command.

A statement issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit on Wednesday, October 14, and signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Raman Sumaila, said 10 suspects were arrested during the police operation.

Items retrieved included 104 live AA cartridges, 37 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 12 mobile phones and seven security uniforms belonging to Nalamtaaba, a small-scale mining firm.

The police also recovered seven body armours, two pepper sprays, four touch lights, a knife, a weapon bag and a set of walkie-talkies.

Military operation leads to six more arrests

In a separate operation, a military team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion arrested six additional suspects and seized two pump-action guns and 105 live AA cartridges.

The six suspects, together with the recovered weapons and ammunition, were subsequently handed over to the police in Bolgatanga for further investigations.

The two operations bring the total number of suspects arrested to 16, with 209 rounds of ammunition recovered alongside other items being treated as exhibits in the ongoing investigations.

Security patrols continue at Gbane

Although the police statement did not specify the offences the suspects are alleged to have committed, the operations form part of broader security efforts at the Gbane mining site amid tensions involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited.

The Police Command said patrols were continuing in the affected communities to maintain peace and order.

It added that all 16 suspects remained in police custody and were assisting with investigations, after which they would be put before the court.

The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects or indicated whether the recovered weapons and ammunition are connected to any specific security incident.