Five arrested over armed robbery at Chinese machinery Company in Asankrangwa

Police in the Western Region have arrested five suspects in connection with an armed robbery attack on a Chinese heavy-duty machinery company at Malta, a suburb of Asankrangwa in the Amenfi West Municipal Assembly.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at about 7:20 p.m., when a group of armed men attacked Velotop Co. Ltd. The suspects, reportedly armed with pump-action guns, a pistol, and machetes, held workers of the company hostage and robbed them of cash amounting to GHS 200,000.

The police in a statement dated Friday, March 13, said that during the robbery, the attackers handcuffed three Chinese nationals, locked them in a room, and fled the scene in a black Toyota Voxy vehicle with registration number GS 576-25.

A patrol team from the Asankrangwa Police responded swiftly after receiving information about the attack, but the suspects had already fled. The information was subsequently circulated to snap checkpoints within the jurisdiction.

The vehicle was later spotted on the Asankrangwa–Sefwi Bekwai road and intercepted by police officers on duty at the Sumpre checkpoint, leading to the arrest of four suspects.

Some of the items retrieved from the suspects included one iPhone 13 mobile phone, one Nokia C300 mobile phone, one Villooan mobile phone, two CCTV camera decoders, three pairs of handcuffs, two pump action guns, 14 AA cartridges, and cash amounting to GHS 198,200.

Subsequently, on March 13, 2026, a fifth suspect, Rashid Abdul, 22, was arrested from his hideout.

Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are residents of Obuasi who travelled to Asankrangwa to carry out the robbery. The group was allegedly led by an accomplice who is a resident of Asankrangwa and is currently at large.

Efforts are underway to arrest the said leader and any other accomplices.

The suspects are currently in police custody, assisting with investigations, and will be arraigned before the court in due course.

The Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to maintaining law and order and has urged members of the public to support the police with credible information to help combat crime.