The Ghana Police Service has announced that the Inspector General of Police (IGP)’s Special Operations Team has arrested 74 suspects.
An official police statement detailed that the arrest follows two separate intelligence-led operations targeting drug trafficking, violent crime, and other criminal activities in the Upper East Region.
According to the Police, in a statement on May 25, 2026, detailed that the operation was carried out between May 20 and May 22, 2026.
In a post on Facebook, the Ghana Police Service stated, “IGP’S SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM ARRESTS 74 SUSPECTS IN ANTI-NARCOTICS AND CRIME SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS IN UPPER EAST REGION.
The IGP’s Special Operations Team has arrested a total of 74 suspects in two separate intelligence-led operations targeting narcotics peddling, violent crime, and other criminal activities in the Upper East Region.
On 20th May 2026, the team conducted a coordinated operation at Paga within the Ghana-Burkina Faso border buffer zone. The operation resulted in the arrest of 40 suspects, comprising 28 males and 12 females. The suspects include 23 Ghanaians, 8 Nigerians, 6 Burkinabés, 1 Malian, and 1 Togolese national. Exhibits recovered include parcels and sacks of suspected narcotic substances, as well as five motorbikes believed to have been used for distribution.
On 22nd May 2026, the team conducted another intelligence-led swoop operation at identified criminal hotspots within the Navrongo Municipality, including the Condemned Road Corridor, “After Six” Spot, and “Lighter Inn” Spot. The operation resulted in the arrest of 34 suspects, made up of 32 males and 2 females. Police also retrieved 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected narcotic substances, and assorted foreign cigarettes.
On the same date, the suspects were put before High Court Two, presided over by His Lordship Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie. Sixteen (16) suspects were remanded into Police custody to reappear before the court on 4th June 2026. The remaining 22 suspects are currently being profiled for further action.
All the suspects remain in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts continue to identify and arrest other persons connected to criminal activities within the affected areas”.
In related news, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that over 6,000 applicants were disqualified during the medical screening stage of the ongoing security services recruitment.
Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak detailed that over 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations as part of the recruitment process.
According to the Interior Minister, the Security Service medical process was expanded beyond the usual physical and laboratory checks.
He disclosed that the test included drug testing and mental health assessments.
The Interior Minister detailed that more than 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while about 2,000 others were disqualified on mental health grounds.
Speaking in an interview on Pan African TV on Saturday, May 23, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak disclosed, “We have over 100,000 people who went through the medicals. Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services.
We introduced additional checks, including mental health assessments and drug tests. Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions,” he said.
See the post below:
IGP’S SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM ARRESTS 74 SUSPECTS IN ANTI-NARCOTICS AND CRIME SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS IN UPPER EAST REGION pic.twitter.com/D9l41Kdooy
— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) May 25, 2026
