The Ghana Police Service has arrested a total of 74 suspects in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting narcotics peddling and other criminal activities in the Upper East Region.
The coordinated swoops were carried out by the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team in two separate exercises conducted in Paga and the Navrongo Municipality.
The first operation took place on May 20 within the Ghana–Burkina Faso border buffer zone at Paga. The exercise led to the arrest of 40 suspects, comprising 28 men and 12 women.
Police confirmed that the arrested individuals included 23 Ghanaians, eight Nigerians, six Burkinabés, one Malian, and one Togolese national.
During the operation, officers retrieved several parcels and sacks containing substances suspected to be narcotics, along with five motorbikes believed to have been used in the distribution of the substances.
Two days later, on May 22, the Special Operations Team carried out a second swoop in identified criminal hotspots within the Navrongo Municipality.
The targeted areas included the Condemned Road Corridor, the “After Six” Spot, and the “Lighter Inn” Spot. That operation resulted in the arrest of 34 additional suspects, made up of 32 men and two women.
Police also retrieved 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected narcotic substances, and assorted foreign cigarettes during the exercise.
According to police statements, all suspects were arraigned before High Court Two on the same day. The court, presided over by Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie, subsequently remanded 16 of the suspects into police custody.
The remanded suspects are expected to reappear before the court on June 4, 2026.
The remaining 22 suspects are currently undergoing profiling to assist ongoing investigations and determine their level of involvement.
The police further stated that all suspects remain in custody assisting investigations, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the criminal networks operating in the affected community
