GH¢50,000 alleged bribe: Five in court over tramadol & tapentadol bust
Five persons have been arraigned before a court in Bekwai in connection with the seizure of 373 packs of prohibited drugs intercepted at the Tweapease Police barrier on the Obuasi to Dunkwa highway.
The suspects include the driver of the vehicle transporting the drugs and a woman identified as Perpetual, a native of Ayamfuri, who police allege owns the consignment, together with three other women.
According to police, a red OA Kia Grandbird bus was intercepted at the Tweapease barrier on February 13, 2026.
A search of the vehicle uncovered two sealed brown boxes containing 257 packs of 50mg tramadol, 58 packs of 250mg tramadol and 58 packs of 225mg tapentadol. The bus was said to be travelling to Ayamfuri, near Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Central Region.
The driver, Mr Joseph Nkrumah, 37, was arrested. During interrogation, Mr Nkrumah named Perpetual as the owner of the drugs.
Police further stated that on February 14, 2026, Perpetual arrived at the same barrier in the company of Diana Mensah, 40, Abena Neyea, 43, and Nana Akua, 35, carrying GH¢50,000 in cash. Police allege that the money was intended as a bribe for officers at the barrier. The four were subsequently arrested, and the GH¢50,000 was retained as evidence.
The five suspects were arraigned on February 16, 2026, under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which regulates the sale of prohibited drugs, herbal medicinal products, cosmetics, medical devices and other household chemical substances.
Details of the charges were contained in a press release issued by the Ashanti South Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, dated February 16, 2026.
