UER: Police seize 500 cartons of assorted Tramadol in Widana

The Police Intelligence Directorate and the Operational Team, known as 'The Black Cobra,' have apprehended approximately 500 cartons of various Tramadol brands in a raid on Widana, located in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region, according to UER. The operation, executed around 4 a.m. local time on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, was a result of a month-long intelligence-gathering effort aimed at uncovering the activities of suspected drug traffickers in the area.

During the raid, the team stormed a privately owned warehouse and several homes, leading to the discovery and confiscation of a substantial quantity of Tramadol. A suspect, 21-year-old Abdul Ali, a Burkinabe national, was apprehended and is currently cooperating with the police in their investigations. Additional intel from the police suggests that the individuals responsible for the importation and distribution of these illicit drugs are foreign nationals from Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Senegal.

These suspects are suspected to be utilizing Widana as a transit hub and distribution center for shipping the drugs to other locations. DCOP Mr. John Ferguson Dzineku, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, described the operation as part of a series of intensified actions to disrupt the illicit drug trade in the region. He emphasized that the police remain committed to pursuing those involved in the trafficking and distribution of narcotics, stating that the ongoing fight against drug abuse and trafficking continues to be a top priority for the force.