The Ghana Police Service has arrested eight Nigerians alongside 66 other suspects during a major crackdown targeting narcotics trafficking and other criminal activities in the Upper East Region of the country.
The arrests followed a series of intelligence-led operations conducted within border communities and identified crime hotspots, according to a statement issued by the Ghanaian authorities on Monday.
Police disclosed that the first operation was carried out on May 20, 2026, at Paga, located within the Ghana-Burkina Faso border buffer zone.
The raid reportedly led to the arrest of 40 suspects, comprising 28 men and 12 women.
According to the police, the suspects included 23 Ghanaians, eight Nigerians, six Burkinabés, one Malian and one Togolese national.
Authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation included sacks and parcels containing suspected narcotic substances, as well as five motorbikes allegedly used for distribution activities.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of 40 suspects, comprising 28 males and 12 females,” the statement partly read.
Police added that a second operation conducted on May 22 within the Navrongo Municipality led to the arrest of 34 additional suspects made up of 32 men and two women.
During the raid, officers reportedly recovered 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected narcotics and assorted foreign cigarettes.
The Ghana Police Service further disclosed that the suspects were arraigned before High Court Two presided over by Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie.
According to the authorities, 16 suspects were remanded in police custody and are expected to reappear before the court on June 4, 2026, while 22 others are currently undergoing profiling 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,” the statement added.
The latest arrests come months after Ghanaian authorities apprehended dozens of Nigerians over alleged cybercrime and human trafficking activities in Accra.
In March, security operatives reportedly arrested 93 Nigerians during coordinated raids targeting suspected internet fraud and illegal detention operations in parts of the Ghanaian capital.
