Kumasi, June 20, GNA- A total of 118 suspected criminals have been arrested since Monday in the Ashanti region following an intensive operation mounted by the police to curb the high incidence of robbery in the region.

The suspects, who were arrested particularly in Kumasi and other parts of the region, are believed to have been involved in a series of crimes including car snatching, street, residential, workplace and highway robberies.

Briefing newsmen in Kumasi on Wednesday on the arrest, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Jonathan Yakubu, Director-General in-charge of Operations, decried the ascendancy of robbery in Ashanti, saying the region has now outstripped Greater Accra, which traditionally was noted for recording higher robberies nationwide. He said for instance that out of the total of 234 robbery cases recorded throughout the country since April to date, Kumasi alone registered 130 representing 55.5 per cent of the national total whilst Accra recorded 67 cases representing 28.6 per cent. DCOP Yakubu indicated that following this development a team of crack policemen had been detailed from the Rapid Response Unit, Panthers Unit, Mobile Force and National Police Headquarters in Accra to support their colleagues in Ashanti to help curb the numerous crimes in the region.

"We will pursue criminals and suspected criminals in the region day and night through vehicular and mobile patrols till we flush all of them out to enhance the peace being enjoyed by residents", he noted. He added that the arrested suspects would be screened in due course and those found to be culpable of the crimes mentioned would be prosecuted.