The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested four suspects after intercepting a commercial vehicle allegedly transporting 50,000 rounds of shotgun ammunition without authorization and foiling an alleged attempt to bribe officers to secure their release.
According to a police operational situation report, the arrests followed intelligence received by the Regional Police Operations Unit on Sunday, June 29, 2026, indicating that a KIA Topic commercial van with registration number UW 139-12 was transporting a large quantity of ammunition through an unapproved route outside Wa Township.
Acting on the intelligence, the Regional Operations Commander, DSP Joseph Nakoja, led a surveillance operation involving officers including Chief Inspector Muntari Karim, Inspector Braimah Issah, General Sergeant Daniel Konadu, CPA Bayor Koyaaro and General Lance Corporal Emmanuel Nyarko.
The police team intercepted the vehicle on the outskirts of Kumbiahe, a suburb of Wa.
During questioning, the driver, Alhassan Issahaku, 25, and his assistant, Iddrisu Mashood, reportedly admitted concealing boxes of cartridges beneath a consignment of floor tiles and other goods.
Police said a third suspect, Alhaji Issahaku, 66, of Wa Dobile, later arrived at the scene and claimed ownership of the ammunition.
The three suspects were arrested and transported, together with the vehicle, to the police station for further investigations.
A subsequent search of the van uncovered 200 boxes of AA cartridges, amounting to 50,000 rounds of ammunition, concealed among the cargo.
While investigations were underway at the police station, a fourth suspect, Sharif Alhassan, 22, allegedly offered GH¢12,000 to police officers in an attempt to influence the release of the suspects and the seized exhibits.
The police rejected the offer and immediately arrested Sharif Alhassan on suspicion of attempting to bribe a public officer.
All four suspects remain in police custody, while the ammunition, the cash allegedly used in the bribery attempt, and the KIA Topic van have been retained as exhibits pending further investigations.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has not yet indicated whether the ammunition was licensed or disclosed the intended destination of the consignment. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the transportation of the ammunition and any possible offences under Ghana’s firearms laws.
Police have reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing the law and urged the public to provide information that could assist in combating the illegal movement of firearms and ammunition across the region.
