Asankragwa: Five arrested in brazen ₵200k robbery at Chinese firm

Five individuals have been detained in relation to a robbery at Velotop Co. Ltd – a Chinese company that specialises in heavy-duty machinery and is located in Asankrangwa, in the Western Region.

The individuals are: Issahaku Ibrahim, 42 years old; Fatal Ali, 25 years old; Yahaya Mumuni, 26 years old; Emmanuel Antwi, 22 years old; and Rashid Abdul, 22 years old.

The police report states that the suspects, who were equipped with pump-action guns, a pistol, and machetes, took employees of the company hostage and stole GHS 200,000 in cash.

The suspects handcuffed three Chinese nationals, confined them in a room, and then left the scene in a black Toyota Voxy with the registration number GS 576-25.

Information was promptly shared with all snap checkpoints in the area when a patrol team arrived at the location.

The vehicle in question was subsequently seen on the Asankrangwa-Sefwi Bekwai road and was stopped by police officers stationed at the Sumpre checkpoint.

The occupants tried to escape from the vehicle but were chased by police at the barrier, assisted by the Asankrangwa patrol team.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of the following items: two pump-action shotguns, 14 AA cartridges, and one Brunei Mod 84 Cal 9 PAK pistol with a magazine containing 8 rounds of ammunition.

The items listed include one machete, one iPhone 13, one Nokia C300 mobile phone, one Villoan mobile phone, two CCTV camera decoders, and three pairs of handcuffs.

Initial investigations suggest that the suspects live in Obuasi and went to Asankrangwa to commit the robbery.

They were accompanied by an accomplice from Asankrangwa, who is currently missing.

Actions are being taken to apprehend the mentioned leader and any other individuals involved.

The suspects are in police custody, cooperating with the investigations, and will appear in court at a later time.

One of the suspects, whose name was withheld, begged to never steal or rob anyone again.