The Northern Regional Special Operations Team of the Ghana Police Service, popularly known as “Red Maria,” has arrested seven suspects and retrieved 40 wraps of suspected Indian hemp during an anti-drug operation in the Tamale Metropolis.
The operation, conducted on Monday, 20 April at approximately 8:30 pm, forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb drug trafficking and related criminal activities in the Northern Region. Details of the exercise were contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Northern Regional Police Command and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Tuesday, 22 April.
According to the statement, the 44-member team carried out coordinated raids based on intelligence at identified hotspots, including Zogbeli, Kukuo, and later Savelugu.
At Zogbeli, four suspects—Sulemana Sualha (20), Alhassan Ayisha (25), Abdul Fatawu Damba (16), and Mohammed Amin (20)—were arrested on suspicion of possessing and dealing in narcotic substances. The team subsequently moved to Kukuo, where two additional suspects, Ibrahim Abdulai (20) and Issah Abass (17), were apprehended for similar offences.
Acting on further intelligence, the operation was extended to Savelugu, where Ibrahim Osuman (21) was arrested. While preliminary investigations suggest his possible involvement in drug-related activities, a search of his residence did not yield any substances.
In total, 40 wraps of suspected Indian hemp were recovered during the operation. All seven suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle drug networks in the region.
