Four persons are in police custody following the seizure of 142 compressed parcels of suspected Indian hemp. The suspects include 46-year-old Alhassan Zeblim, Ibrahim Yussif, 34, who was riding the tricycle, and his brother and 56-year-old Bawa Yussif.

The suspects were travelling in a mini commercial bus with registration number GW 7800-14 from Bimbilla towards Tamale. The bus was driven by Alhassan Zeblim. According to a police statement, the quartet was arrested during an intelligence-led operation on the Bimbilla–Tamale Highway on Thursday, October 15.

The operation was led by Chief Inspector Abu Isahaku of the Northern Regional Special Operations Team, codenamed Red Maria, and involved 13 personnel.

The statement said "At the location, police arrested Ibrahim Yussif, 34, the tricycle rider, and his brother, Bawa Yussif, 56, who had accompanied him to receive the consignment".Meanwhile, all four suspects and the exhibits have been handed over to the Regional Drugs Law Enforcement Unit for further investigation.

In recent times, authorities have intensified efforts in clamping down on the trafficking and transportation of illicit drugs across the country.

In February, two truckloads carrying large quantities of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp were intercepted by police at the Assokor barrier in the Shama Municipality of the Western Region.

The discovery was made during a routine inspection at the barrier on Monday, February 23.

According to police sources, the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe the officers in a bid to secure the release and passage of the trucks. However, the officers reportedly rejected the offer.

On February 18, a Sinotruk tipper truck with registration number GN 993-14, carrying over 3,000 slabs of plant material suspected to be narcotic drugs, was impounded by the Ghana Police Service at Sege Akpla Manya in the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, February 15.

The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation. According to a press release from the Tema Regional Police Command, the suspected drugs were packed in fertilizer sacks. The statement added that the driver abandoned the truck and fled the scene upon spotting the police.

On Wednesday, February 11, a DAF long trailer with registration number GW 1943-09, carrying 4,000 parcels of suspected narcotics, was intercepted by the Oti Regional Police Command at Dambai, Oti Region.

The police, in a press release, disclosed that the interception was made possible following intelligence gathered by their officers.

According to the statement, thousands of compressed dried leaf parcels, wrapped in yellow masking tape and hidden in secret compartments sealed with six metal plates, were discovered by the officers.

“The concealed compartments beneath the trailer were opened in the presence of suspect Amidu Jubril, aged 40. A search in the secret compartments led to the discovery of Four Thousand (4000) parcels of compressed dried leaf substances wrapped in a yellow masking tape suspected to be narcotics, carefully concealed within the compartments,” the statement said.