Eastern Regional Police Arrest 11 Fake National Security Operatives Extorting Cannabis Farmers
The Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested 11 people posing as National Security operatives and extorting money from cannabis farmers at Aboa, a farming community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality.
The suspects, according to police sources, allegedly dressed in National Security uniforms and moved from one community to another, demanding money from residents, particularly farmers engaged in cannabis cultivation.
Citi News sources indicate that the fake operatives operated in communities including Osoya, Aboa, Osuboi No. 1, Opesika and their surrounding areas.
They reportedly used motorbikes to patrol the communities and allegedly assured cannabis farmers that they would protect them and shield them from police operations and raids.
The group, which had been on the radar of the Eastern Regional Police Command’s Operations Unit for several months, was arrested following a tip-off that they had returned to extorting money from farmers.
Personnel from the Regional Operations Unit reportedly laid an ambush at dawn and arrested the suspects after they allegedly collected GH¢3,000 from farmers at Aboa.
Police confiscated a silver-coloured Toyota Voxy with registration number GE 8755-26, a pump-action gun and a pistol allegedly used by the suspects.
The suspects were subsequently escorted to the Regional Police Command in Koforidua for interrogation and further investigations.
