Ethiopia confiscates 10,000 guns in nine months in capital city

ADDIS ABABA, May 14  — Police in the Ethiopian capital city Addis Ababa have confiscated around 10,000 guns in a nine-months period, an Ethiopian official said on Tuesday.

Getu Argawe, Commissioner at Addis Ababa Police Commission, said around 10,000 guns, 30 Kalashnikov rifles and more than 19,000 bullets were seized during operations to combat illicit weapons trade in the last nine months, reported state media outlet Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation.

Argawe said around 80,000 U.S. dollars’ worth of foreign currency were also seized during the operations.
Argawe called on the public to cooperate with police to combat illegal activities and ensure the prevalence of the rule of law and peace in Addis Ababa.

He further said police has arrested around 1,680 suspects accused of conducting various organized criminal activities in Addis Ababa over the past nine months.

Addis Ababa, which is Ethiopia’s main political and economic hub, with an estimated population of over five million, hosts more than 100 diplomatic and international organization missions and is generally thought to be a safe city.

But, recently rising incidences of violent crimes have led to the Ethiopian government to install hundreds of security cameras along major road avenues and make large-scale arrests in Addis Ababa. – XINHUA