Police arrest 27 suspects in major crackdown on drug peddling in Northern Region

The Northern Regional Police Command, in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team, has arrested 27 suspects in a major anti-drug operation aimed at curbing drug peddling and related criminal activities across the region.

The coordinated swoops, carried out on Tuesday, 19th November 2025, targeted known drug-trading communities in and around Tamale, including identified drug hotspots operating within the metropolis.

Among those arrested were Iddrisu Abdul Bassit, Iddrisu Sadick, Yawuza Hishan, Yakubu Yussif, Alhassan Abukari, Mutaru Daniel Fisco, Ibrahim Abdul Wakil, Hawa Abdul Rahman, Latifa Iddrisu, Mariam Fuseini, Ibrahim Sadia, Issah Latifa, and several others whose identities are still being verified by investigators.

During the operation, police recovered dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, packaged in polythene bags, as well as five motorbikes believed to have been used to distribute illegal drugs within the metropolis. Additional intelligence-led actions taken in other parts of Tamale later the same day resulted in the arrest of more suspects, increasing the total number to 27.

All suspects have been transferred to the Northern Regional Drug Law Enforcement Unit to support ongoing investigations into the supply networks operating within the region.

On Friday, 21st November 2025, nine suspects—consisting of five females and four males—were arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court on charges of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority. One other suspect was also charged separately with unlawful possession of arms and ammunition. All 10 suspects pleaded not guilty and were subsequently granted bail by the court.

Meanwhile, the remaining 18 suspects have been remanded into police custody to assist authorities in deepening investigations, particularly in efforts to identify ringleaders and their wider distribution networks.

A statement from the Northern Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the nationwide campaign against illegal drugs, warning that security agencies will continue operations across all identified drug hubs.

Police officials have also urged community members to cooperate by reporting suspicious drug activities to authorities, emphasizing that public support remains key in securing safer environments for young people and residents across the region.