Police arrest 80 in Upper East anti-crime operation
Police say the intelligence-led operation focused on communities identified as crime-prone areas, including Zuarungu, Bolgatanga, Tongo, Bongo and parts of the Nabdam District.
Eighty people have been arrested in a major police operation across parts of the Upper East Region.
The exercise was carried out between May 25 and June 3, 2026, by the Upper East Regional Police Command in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team.
Police say the intelligence-led operation focused on communities identified as crime-prone areas, including Zuarungu, Bolgatanga, Tongo, Bongo and parts of the Nabdam District.
The biggest number of arrests was made at Bongo, where 34 suspects, made up of 32 men and two women, were picked up.
In Bolgatanga, 20 people were arrested.
Another 14 suspects were arrested at Pelungu, Kongo and Nangodi in the Nabdam District. They included 12 men and two women.
At Zuarungu, police arrested 12 suspects, comprising eight men and four women. Three of the women are Nigerian nationals, while one is Ghanaian.
According to police, preliminary investigations suggest that several of the suspects may be linked to the sale and use of narcotic substances, as well as other criminal activities.
The operation also led to the seizure of suspected narcotic substances, motorbikes, ammunition, foreign cigarettes and gaming machines.
At Tongo, police retrieved a motorcycle, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, assorted foreign cigarettes and male condoms.
At Bongo, officers seized three rounds of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition and two motorbikes.
In the Nabdam District, police recovered parcels and sacks of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic substances, assorted drinks suspected to contain narcotic content, an unregistered motorbike, foreign cigarettes and parts of a casino jackpot machine.
In Bolgatanga, officers seized dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, assorted cigarettes, three motorbikes and a casino jackpot machine.
The motorbikes included a Yamaha Sirius with registration number M-19-UE 2688, a Luojia with registration number M-13-UE 7181 and an unregistered Haojue.
Police say all 80 suspects remain in custody and will be processed for court as investigations continue.
