An officer of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has been arrested in connection with the interception of a large cache of AK-47 ammunition in the Ashanti Region.
The officer, identified as Assistant Immigration Control Officer I (AICO I) Ahmed Abdul Samad, is a native of Nalerigu and currently stationed at the Paga Sector Command. He was arrested by the Upper East Regional Police Command following investigations into the seizure.
The arrest stems from an incident on December 26, 2025, when police officers at the Kantanso–Asankare barrier in the Ashanti Region stopped an OA bus with registration number GT 5771-18. The bus was travelling from Accra to Paga.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 2,600 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition concealed in two containers. Police also found a tactical bag hidden beneath the driver’s seat containing two bulletproof plates, a black helmet and tactical boots. Other items recovered included a ballistic helmet, an electric diffuser and a disco bulb.
The bus driver, Kwame Afram, and his mate, Godfred Essel, were immediately arrested to assist with investigations. Subsequent inquiries traced the consignment to Paga, leading to the arrest of AICO I Samad.
During interrogation, the immigration officer denied any involvement in illegal arms trafficking. He told investigators that after his transfer from the Tema Regional Immigration Headquarters to Paga in June 2025, he had left some personal gear behind. He claimed he later contacted a colleague identified as Isaac, an officer at the GIS headquarters in Accra, to send his boots and body armour plates to him.
However, police say the presence of a large quantity of live ammunition alongside the tactical equipment has raised serious concerns. Investigators are now working to verify the identity of the alleged colleague and determine whether the items were linked to a wider illegal operation.
The case comes at a time of heightened security awareness, as the Ministry of the Interior has set January 15, 2026, as the deadline for the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms. The movement of such a large amount of ammunition toward northern border areas has heightened concerns about potential criminal or cross-border security threats.
Police commands in the Ashanti South and Upper East regions are currently collaborating to trace the source and intended destination of the seized ammunition.
