A specialised tactical unit operating under the Inspector-General of Police has arrested 74 suspects during two separate, intelligence-driven raids aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing illicit activities in the Upper East Region.

The coordinated interventions took place in Paga and the Navrongo Municipality, forming part of a broader strategy by the Ghana Police Service to suppress violent crime and narcotics offenses within border zones and interior communities.

Two-Phase Border and Hotspot Raids

The initial operation occurred on May 20, 2026, when law enforcement personnel raided a location within the Ghana–Burkina Faso border buffer zone in Paga. The exercise resulted in the detention of 40 individuals, consisting of 28 men and 12 women.

According to police documentation, the demographic breakdown of the suspects includes:

- 23 Ghanaian nationals

- Eight Nigerian nationals

- Six Burkinabé nationals

- One Malian national

- One Togolese national

During the Paga raid, officers confiscated multiple sacks and parcels containing substances suspected to be illegal narcotics, along with five motorcycles believed to be utilized for local drug distribution.

The second phase of the crackdown was executed on May 22, 2026, targeting designated criminal hotspots within the Navrongo Municipality. The sweeps focused on the Condemned Road Corridor, the "After Six" location, and the "Lighter Inn" venue, netting an additional 34 suspects, comprising 32 men and two women. Officers at these locations seized 11 motorcycles, various quantities of suspected narcotics, and a cache of smuggled foreign cigarettes.

Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations

All 74 suspects were formally presented before High Court Two on the day of the second raid, appearing before presiding Judge Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie.

The court ordered 16 of the suspects to be remanded into police custody, with their next scheduled court appearance set for June 4, 2026. The remaining 22 individuals are currently undergoing official profiling by law enforcement to determine subsequent legal actions.

The Ghana Police Service confirmed that active investigations are continuing as investigators work to uncover and arrest additional accomplices connected to the regional criminal rings.