Five arrested in Accra armed robbery crackdown as police seize illegal firearms

The Accra Regional Police Command has dismantled a criminal network operating in Sapeiman, arresting five suspects and recovering an arsenal of illegal weapons during a coordinated intelligence operation on 17 July 2026.

The joint operation between the Accra Regional Police Command and the National Police Intelligence Directorate (NPID) resulted in the seizure of multiple firearms, including a pump action gun, a Stoeger ST R9 pistol, and a dummy Austria pistol. Officers also recovered 12 BB cartridges, ammunition rounds for 9mm and AK-47 rifles, as well as offensive items including knives, a jackknife, a face mask and a talisman believed used in the group's criminal activities.

The five suspects—Torgbui Agah Semaglo (50), Shadrach Agah Semaglo (22), William Kweku Sedanu (21), Cyril Kassenu (26), and Kingsford Agah Semaglo (18)—are currently assisting police with investigations. Officers believe the group used these weapons to terrorise residents and businesses across Sapeiman and surrounding communities.

The nature of the criminal operation

According to preliminary investigations, the arrested individuals were members of an organised criminal gang specialising in armed robbery and land guard activities—illegal occupations of properties that have become a persistent problem in several Greater Accra communities. The gang's operations extended beyond Sapeiman, with police working to link them to additional robbery cases and related offences.

The recovery of such weapons is significant, as illegal firearms remain a critical challenge for law enforcement in the Greater Accra Region. The presence of ammunition specifically for high-calibre weapons like AK-47s suggests the group may have been involved in more serious violent crimes than initially apparent.

Why it matters for Ghana

This operation highlights ongoing efforts by Ghana's police service to combat armed crime, which continues to affect residents' sense of security in parts of Greater Accra. Land guard activities in particular have become increasingly brazen in urban areas, with criminal syndicates using intimidation and violence to illegally occupy and sell properties, often displacing families and disrupting communities.

The successful operation demonstrates the value of intelligence-led policing and public cooperation. The Accra Regional Police Command specifically acknowledged that credible information from residents enabled the operation, reinforcing the importance of community engagement in crime-fighting. As urban crime remains a pressing concern for Ghanaians, particularly in Accra, operations like this represent concrete steps toward restoring public safety.

Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest station or through emergency numbers. All recovered items have been retained as evidence whilst investigations continue into the suspects' involvement in other criminal cases and the identification of possible accomplices still at large.