Ten Chinese Nationals were on Wednesday remanded in police custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly possessing firearms without lawful authority.

The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty through an interpreter, are: Wei Hanwei, Excavator Engineer; Huang Huan Kao, Mechanic; Meng Xing Gou, Mechanic; Zhang Xiong Fei, Engineer; and Li Hia Jian, Mechanic.

The rest are: He Shi Lin, Engineer; Lu Shi Lin, Engineer; Lu Shun Ming, Mechanic; Wei Guo Cai, Mechanic; Zhou Ping, Mechanic; and Li Qicho, Mechanic.

Mr Seidu Nasigri, the counsel for the accused persons prayed the court for bail but the trial judge, Mr Francis Obiri adjourned the case to May 18 to rule on the application.

Mr Stephen Adjei, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that the police got information to the effect that some Chinese Nationals were doing illegal mining (Galamsey) at Obuasi and its environs.

He said personnel from the National Operations Unit led by Chief Superintendent Peter Ndekugri mounted an operation in Obuasi on May 9 and arrested the accused persons.

The prosecution said a search conducted in their premises led to the retrieval of the eight pump action guns, one locally made pistol with four 38mm live ammunitions, twenty-one 9mm live ammunition, 198 cartridges and four communication equipment.