Western Region: Military busts explosive producers, seizes 20,000 pieces in Tarkwa

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have busted a syndicate of 13 foreigners allegedly engaged in the manufacture of explosives in Tarkwa in the Western Region.

Over 20, 000 pieces of illegal explosives were seized from the suspects, made up of eight Chinese, three Togolese, an Ivorian and a Nigerian.

The explosives, which were seized on the premises of Mohammed Brothers Company Limited and Dekete Mines in Tarkwa, included about 10,00kg of ammonium nitrate and about 20,000 explosive charges in the form of dynamite which had been prepared from ammonium nitrate.

“Most of the ammonium nitrate were concealed in flour and rice sacks,” the GAF said in a statement.

According to the statement, the operation, led by personnel of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, “was premised on detailed intelligence aimed at clamping down on the manufacture, sale and use of illegal dynamite in parts of the country, especially mining areas.”

Further checks by Daily Graphic indicated that the suspects has been screened and handed over to the National Security in Accra for further investigations.

Community alarmed
Members of the community where the explosives were found were alarmed by the operations of the syndicate, especially as terrorists were threatening the northern border areas of the country.

Some who spoke to Daily Graphic said the suspects were operating in the heart of Tarkwa, not far from a senior high school, with other social and economic activities going on in the area, saying the operations of the syndicate posed a threat to lives and properties.

They commended the GAF for their intervention, since the explosives could have caused a blast, with devastating consequences.

Dangers
A military source told the Daily Graphic that Mohammed Brothers and Dakete Mines where the arrests took place were unsafe, and that in case of any explosion, the damage could be colossal.

“It is important to let the public know that ammonium nitrate mixed with diesel tends to be dangerous when there is a blast. Aside from that, exposure to the inhalation of high concentrations of ammonium nitrate dust could lead to respiratory diseases.

“The danger here is that Mohammed Brothers and Dakete Mines are located in a populated area in Tarkwa and near a school,” the source said.