By Gyabaab Wassah Duncan
The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered 209 rounds of live ammunition, two pump-action guns and other items during coordinated security operations at the Gbane mining site in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
The operations, conducted on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, involved personnel from the National Police Intelligence Directorate, the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Special Operations Team, popularly known as the Black Cobra, and the Tongo District Police Command, alongside a military team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion.
The arrests form part of intensified security efforts to maintain peace and order at the mining site and surrounding communities amid tensions involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited.
Police Operation Yields Ammunition, Suspected Narcotics
According to a press release issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Raman Sumaila, the police-led operation resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects.
The operation also led to the recovery of several items, including 104 live AA cartridges, 37 wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and 12 mobile phones.
Other items retrieved included seven security uniforms belonging to Nalamtaaba, a small-scale mining firm, seven body armours, two pepper sprays, four touch lights, a knife, a weapon bag and a set of walkie-talkies.
The recovery of the ammunition, suspected narcotic substances and security-related equipment forms part of the evidence being handled by investigators as efforts continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and any alleged offences.
Military Arrests Six Additional Suspects
In a related operation, a military team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion arrested six additional suspects and recovered 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 arrests bring the total number of suspects apprehended during the two operations to 16, while the combined ammunition recovered amounts to 209 live AA cartridges.
The two pump-action guns recovered during the military operation are also among the exhibits handed over to the police.
Security Concerns at Gbane Mining Site
The latest security operations come against the backdrop of tensions involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited.
The situation has drawn security attention to the area, with law enforcement agencies seeking to prevent further disturbances and ensure the safety of residents and other persons operating within the mining communities.
However, the police statement did not specify the individual offences the 16 suspects are suspected of committing or establish whether the recovered weapons and other items were directly connected to the tensions at the mining site.
The arrests and recoveries therefore remain subject to police investigations, and the suspects’ individual roles, if any, are yet to be established through the appropriate legal process.
Police Intensify Patrols to Maintain Peace
The Upper East Regional Police Command has indicated that patrols are continuing in the affected communities as part of measures to maintain law and order and prevent further security incidents.
The 16 suspects remain in police custody, assisting with investigations, and are expected to be put before the court, according to the police statement.
The ongoing patrols are intended to reinforce security in the affected areas while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the items recovered.
The police have not provided further details on the next steps in the investigation or indicated whether additional arrests are expected.
The latest operation underscores the continued collaboration between the police and the military in addressing security concerns in the Upper East Region, particularly in communities where tensions threaten public safety and the peaceful conduct of mining activities.
Source: Mybluewavesonline.com| Maurice Duncan |Bolgatanga
