Somali Police Seize Illegal Weapons, Arrest Arms Dealers in Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Police in Mogadishu Thursday arrested four suspected arms dealers during a security swoop conducted across several district within the Banadir region.

Banadir region police displayed an assortment of weapons including 33 AK-47 rifles and four PKM machine guns that were confiscated during the operation.

According to the Banadir regional police commander Mahdi Omar Mumin, the suspects are scheduled to be produced before court to answer the charges.

Mumin at the same time called upon Banadir region residents to collaborate more closely with security forces to combat the arms trade.

“It is unacceptable to sell illegal weapons in the districts of Banadir Region. We will arrest those who are still dealing with weapons in their homes,” Mumin said.

The operation comes after the Somali cabinet passed a resolution in July 2024 prohibiting the arms trade by non-state actors to tighten security in the region.