Techiman (B/A), Aug 17, GNA - Four people were arrested in a joint Military-Police operation codenamed "Operation Come Life" at Techiman on Thursday for dealing in narcotic drugs.

Maxwell Asiedu Kwarteng, alias 'Last Killer', a 32-year-old driver, Sulemana Rahim, 42, trader, Jafaru Salu, 35, watchman and Alex Takyi, 33, trader, have been placed in custody.

The 150-strong contingent was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander and Captain S S Mezor of the Number Three Garrison in Sunyani. DCOP Opare-Addo said the exercise was part of an operation to rid the Region of criminals and Indian hemp and other narcotic drug dealers especially at Techiman, because of the commercial activities in the town.

The Regional Police Commander called on the public to alert the Police on suspicious characters in their areas and asked landlords to monitor the activities of their tenants.

Chief Inspector Afoakwa Bretuo of the Sunyani Municipal Police Station told newsmen that the operation followed reports of an upsurge in the activities of Indian hemp dealers.

He said a quantity of leaves and substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine, mobile phones, scissors, one locally manufactured pistol and two locally manufactured rifles were retrieved in the operation.

Superintendent Kwadwo Peprah Addai, Techiman Municipal Police Commander, told GNA that the Techiman Police recorded 2,084 criminal cases in the first quarter of this year as against 8,011, last year. They included stealing, assault, fraud, defilement, robbery, murder, rape, attempted rape, child trafficking and possession of Indian hemp.

Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in an interview explained that the exercise was aimed at clamping down on criminals.

He appealed to banking institutions, filling station owners and business enterprises to support the Police to combat crime in the Region.

Sergeant Mohammed Mahama of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) attributed the increased cases of robbery and stealing to the influx of people from all walks of life to the Techiman market.