Thirty-nine suspected drug peddlers have been arrested by the police in a separate operation organised by the Madina and James Town Police in Accra respectively.
Madina Police swoop was conducted in areas including Redco Flats and Ritz Junction where 20 were arrested while 19 others were grabbed at Old Fadama and Zongo Lane in an operation organised by the James Town Police.
Suspects arrested and currently with the Madina Police are Abukari Halilu, 24, Ali Awudu, 20, Bella Emmanuel ,27 , Doris Ansah, 30 , Elizabeth Mary ,23 , Jennifer Daniel, 27 , Isaac Awudu, 30 , Rejoice Onyko, 35 , Kwame Osama, 33, Sadick Seidu, 22 , Saglo Isaac, 19 , Raphael Apetey, 35 , Victoria Agbesi, 21 , Joyce Arhin , 25 , Rami Charra, 23, Mercy Jacob, 30, Ansah Prosper, 22, David Kra, 23, Favour John, 30, and Seidu Ali, 30.
Those arrested at Old Fadama and Zongo Lane included Kwadjo Poku , 42, Safiru Munkaila, 31, Wisdom Mawuli , 26, Noah Quarshie , 25, Kofi Benneh, 27, Abdul Rhaman Surage, 24, Bernard Nkrumah, 48, Yaw Twumasi , 37, Sulley Iddrisu, 30, Emmanuel Mensah, 25, Daniel Antwi, 32, Kwaku Agyeman, 20, Isaac Arthur, 22, Adams Abubakari, 30, Samuel Kwadjo Nti, 34, Ola Michael, 25, Abdul Kadril Armmed, 25, Valencia Yerbowu, 46, and Naomi Foster, 20.
Briefing the media on the operation, DSP Efia Tenge, the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said among the twenty persons arrested at Madina included nine females while in James Town operation, two females were arrested.
She said the operation was part of police strategy to curb crime.
“At Madina, Chief Superintendent Cosmos Alan Anyan led the operation and apprehended the suspects who are alleged to be harassing passengers and commuters at night,” DSP Tenge disclosed.
She said Madina Police had received several complaints of bag snatching and several attacks on commuters within the area and through intelligence the swoop was organised over the weekend to apprehend the suspects believed to be behind the act.
DSP Tenge said some quantities of cigarettes, pairs of scissors, condoms, and cannabis were retrieved during the operation and have been kept for evidential purposes.
“James Town Police also conducted the exercise over the weekend to apprehend the suspects who are suspected to be drug peddlers operating within the area,” the Police PRO pointed out.
She said some quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were also retrieved in the operation.
“The suspects will be thoroughly screened and those found culpable will be prosecuted, but the screening will also include suspects who may be connected to crimes already reported at the various stations,” DSP Tenge indicated.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey