The Accra Circuit ‘9’ presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah has remanded NO. 201709 Corporal Arafat Kunde and two others, including a female for allegedly engaging in illicit arms trafficking.

The soldier together with Mahama Makbool, unemployed, and Nancy Asgong, trader were arraigned before the court for two counts of illicit trafficking in arms and ammunitions.

The court did not take that accused persons’ pleas and has adjourned the case to March 9, 2022, for continuation.

The police prosecuting officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvester Asare told the court that there are three other accomplices – W.O. Rahman, James Mawuena, Akwesi aka Upgrade – who are currently at large.

According to him, the three alleged illegal activities came to the known on January 2022, after the police received information that some group of persons was dealing in firearms and ammunition.

He said upon receipt of the information, the police mounted surveillance on the accused persons, and on February 18, 2022, Nancy Ashong was arrested at Fadama, a suburb of Accra. 

He said this information led to a search to be conducted in Nancy’s kitchen, and 16 boxes of 7.2 x 39mm Ball (24,000 rounds of AK 47 ammunition) were found.

The court was informed that when Nancy was questioned about how the ammunition got into her house, she mentioned Mahama Makbool’s name as the owner of boxes of ammunition.

DSP Asare added that Mahama was arrested at his house, which was close to Nancy’s residence.

He pointed out to the court that one Smith & Wesson SD9 VE pistol with Serial No. FBU2848 was retrieved from Mahama’s room after the search was conducted.

He said: “During interrogation, A2 (Mahama) admitted that he (A2) brought the sixteen boxes of the AK47 ammunition to A3’s (Nancy) kitchen for safekeeping. A2 further admitted ownership of the Smith & Wesson pistol. However, A2 mentioned A1 (Kunde) the person who supplied him with the ammunition together with an SMG rifle to be sold for him.”

DSP Asare further indicated to the court that the police later arrested Kunde at Kasoa and admitted to the crime of supplying 20 boxes of AK47 ammunition to Mahama. 

He said Kunde also mentioned suspect Warran Officer Rahman who works with the Ghana Armed Forces as his source of the AK47 ammunition. 

The court was told that it was established that James Mawuena @ASAFOATSE gave the two SMG assault rifles to Kunde to sell for him 

The prosecuting officer added that Kunde then handed over the said SMG assault weapons to Maham to sell.

According to him, Mahama successfully sold one of the SMG assault rifles at a cost of GH¢11,800.00 and returned the other unsold SMG weapon to James Mawuena. 

He said Kunde further stated that Kwesi alias Update gave the Smith & Wesson pistol to him to be given to Mahama.

According to the prosecutor, it was uncovered during a preliminary investigation that, the accused persons are engaged in the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition. 

He told the court that efforts are underway to apprehend the other accomplices.