An intelligence-led crackdown in the Upper East Region has resulted in the arrest of 74 suspects as police intensify efforts to dismantle narcotics networks and curb violent crime.
The targeted swoops, executed by the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team, took place across key border areas and urban crime hotspots.
The first phase of the operation unfolded on 20 May 2026 within the Ghana-Burkina Faso border buffer zone at Paga.
Officers intercepted a transnational group, detaining 40 individuals consisting of 28 men and 12 women.
The breakdown of those in custody highlights the cross-border nature of the network, comprising 23 Ghanaians, eight Nigerians, six Burkinabés, one Malian, and one Togolese national.
During the raid, police seized numerous sacks and parcels of suspected narcotics, alongside five motorbikes used to distribute the illicit substances.
Two days later, on 22 May, the task force launched a second swoop targeting notorious criminal havens within the Navrongo Municipality.
Raids focused heavily on the Condemned Road Corridor, the “After Six” spot, and the “Lighter Inn” spot.
This phase yielded 34 further arrests, including 32 men and two women. Authorities recovered an additional 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected drugs, and a stash of foreign cigarettes.
The legal process moved swiftly following the Navrongo raids. On the afternoon of 22 May, a batch of the suspects appeared before His Lordship Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie at High Court Two.
The court remanded 16 individuals into police custody, ordering them to reappear on 4 June 2026. Meanwhile, investigators are profiling 22 other suspects to determine their exact level of involvement before formal charges are laid.
All 74 suspects are being held in custody to assist with ongoing enquiries.
Local police commanders have assured the public that operations will persist until all remaining accomplices linked to these syndicates are brought to justice.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana