IGP’s Special Operations Team arrests 74 suspects in Upper East
The Special Operations Team of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has arrested 74 persons in a series of intelligence-led operations targeting narcotics peddling and other criminal activities in the Upper East Region.
According to a police statement issued yesterday, the operations, which were carried out at border communities and identified crime hotspots, formed part of intensified police efforts to clamp down on drug trafficking, violent crime and related offences in the region.
The police said they retrieved quantities of suspected narcotic substances, motorbikes believed to have been used in criminal activities, and assorted foreign cigarettes during the swoops.
Border operation
The police indicated that the first operation was conducted on May 20, 2026, at Paga within the Ghana-Burkina Faso border buffer zone, which led to the arrest of 40 suspects, made up of 28 men and 12 women.
According to the police, the suspects comprised 23 Ghanaians, eight Nigerians, six Burkinabés, one Malian and one Togolese national.
The police said parcels and sacks of suspected narcotic substances were retrieved during the exercise, together with five motorbikes believed to have been used in the distribution of the substances.
Navrongo swoop
In a related development, the Special Operations Team conducted another intelligence-led swoop on May 22, 2026, at identified criminal hotspots within the Navrongo Municipality.
The targeted areas included the Condemned Road Corridor, the “After Six” spot and the “Lighter Inn” spot.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 34 suspects, comprising 32 men and two women.
Police also retrieved 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected narcotic substances and assorted foreign cigarettes.
Court proceedings
The statement said the suspects were subsequently arraigned before High Court Two in Navrongo on the same day.
The court, presided over by His Lordship Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie, remanded 16 suspects into police custody to reappear before the court on June 4, 2026.
The remaining 22 suspects are currently being profiled for further action.
The police said all the suspects remained in custody assisting investigations, while efforts were underway to identify and arrest other persons linked to criminal activities in the affected areas.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Police Service to combat organised crime and ensure public safety across the country.
