Five accused persons are standing trial for the possession and sale of tramadol and other hard drugs in Tamale.
They have been sentenced to fines ranging from 600 to 900 penalty units translating into over 900,000 cedis or in default serve between 15 to 17 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Tamale Circuit Court presided over by His Highness Francis Asobayire, convicted the accused persons on their own pleas.
The five, Haruna Mohammed Sadais aged 27, Iddrisu Fidels aged 20, Alhassan Wumpini aged 20, Bassit Iddrisu aged 21, and Alhassan Adam aged 33, were charged with Prohibited Sale of Drug Without Lawful Authority Contrary to Section 111 of Public Health Act, 2012, (Act 851).
On March 5, 2025, officers from the Northern Regional Police Command, at about 2:30am, were on night patrol duty within the Tamale Metropolis when they were alerted about some known drugs peddling hubs at Lamakara, Taxi Rank and other places.
In the course of the visit, the Police saw several drug peddlers including the convicts busily trading in Tramadol and other hard drugs.
Upon seeing the police, the accused persons took to their heels but were given a hot chase by the officers. Some were arrested whilst others escaped.
In the course of a search conducted on the accused persons, Police found 6 tablet of Rohypnol 1mg, 1 sachet and eight(8) tablet of Tramadol 250mg, 1 sachet and eight(8) tablets of tramadol 225mg and three(3) tablet of tramadol 120mg, forty-two(42) pieces of hashis and three wraps dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, on the suspects.
The accused were handed over to the Drugs Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) at the Tamale Police Regional Headquarters, together with the above mentioned exhibits for further investigation.
The accused were charged with Possession of Restricted Drugs without Lawful Authority Contrary to Section 102 of Pharmacy Council Act, 2013, (Act 857) and arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court.
By Christopher Amoako
