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Eight Nigerians have been arrested in Ghana after security operatives carried out a major anti-crime and anti-narcotics operation targeting criminal hotspots and border communities in the country’s Upper East Region.
The Ghana Police Service confirmed that the Nigerians were among 74 suspects rounded up during a series of intelligence-led raids focused on drug trafficking, violent crimes, and other illegal activities.
According to the police, the first operation took place on May 20, 2026, around the Paga border area between Ghana and Burkina Faso — a location authorities described as a key route for cross-border criminal activities.
During the raid, officers arrested 40 suspects, including 23 Ghanaians, eight Nigerians, six Burkinabés, one Malian, and one Togolese national.
Police said several exhibits were recovered from the suspects, including sacks and parcels containing substances suspected to be narcotics, as well as five motorbikes allegedly used in transporting and distributing illegal substances.
In a separate operation carried out two days later in Navrongo Municipality, authorities arrested another 34 suspects made up of 32 men and two women.
The Ghana Police Service disclosed that officers also recovered 11 motorbikes, quantities of suspected narcotic substances, and assorted foreign cigarettes during the second raid.
Authorities said some of the suspects have already been arraigned before High Court Two in Ghana, presided over by Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie.
According to the police, 16 suspects were remanded in custody and are expected to reappear in court on June 4, 2026, while 22 others are currently undergoing profiling and further investigation.
“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 amid increasing crackdowns by Ghanaian authorities on organised criminal networks, especially those linked to narcotics, cybercrime, trafficking, and illegal cross-border operations.
Earlier this year, Ghanaian authorities also arrested more than 90 Nigerians in Accra over alleged cybercrime and human trafficking activities.
Reports indicated that several victims were rescued during that operation after allegedly being subjected to torture and abuse inside properties linked to the suspects.
The Ghana Police Service says operations against criminal syndicates will continue as part of efforts to improve security and tackle organised crime across the country.
Source: PUNCH Metro / Ghana Police Service
