Five Arrested Over Tramadol Haul; Suspects Allegedly Offer GH¢50,000 Bribe to Police

The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has dealt a significant blow to the illicit narcotics trade following a high-stakes interception at the Tweapease Police barrier.

In an operation that underscores commitment to public safety, officers seized a massive consignment of prohibited opioids and arrested five individuals, including three women who allegedly attempted to bribe their way out of custody.

The seizure, which took place on Friday, 13th February 2026, involved 257 packs of Tramadol and 58 packs of Tapentadol—a potent synthetic opioid frequently sold under the street name “Royal“.

The drugs were discovered concealed aboard a red OA KIA Grandbird bus traversing the notorious Obuasi-Dunkwa highway. The vehicle was en route to Ayanfuri, a mining hub near Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region, where such substances are often diverted for illegal use in the artisanal mining (galamsey) sector.

Addressing the press in Bekwai on Monday, 16th February, the Ashanti South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, detailed the initial breakthrough. The driver, identified as Joseph Nkrumah, was immediately detained.

During a tactical interrogation, Nkrumah implicated a woman known only as Perpetual as the primary architect behind the shipment.

A GH¢50,000 bribe backfires

The investigation took a dramatic turn on Valentine’s Day, 14th February, when Perpetual, apparently desperate to secure the release of the driver and the contraband, arrived at the Tweapease barrier.

She was accompanied by three accomplices: Diana Mensah (40), Abena Neyea (43), and Nana Akua.

In a brazen display of corruption, the group allegedly offered the duty officers a bribe of GH¢50,000 in cash. Demonstrating high professional integrity, the police accepted the sum, but strictly for use as material evidence in court.

“While investigations were ongoing, the suspect, together with three accomplices… arrived at the Tweapease Police barrier… allegedly in an attempt to bribe officers with GH¢50,000. The police accepted the money strictly for evidential purposes,” DCOP Nyaaba disclosed.

Court action and the Public Health Act

All five suspects were swiftly arraigned before a court in Bekwai on Monday, 16th February 2026.

They face multiple charges under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). This stringent legislation prohibits the unlawful sale and distribution of restricted drugs, medical devices, and household chemicals.

The Ashanti South Command has sent a clear message to drug syndicates operating within the transit corridors between the Ashanti and Central Regions. DCOP Nyaaba warned that the region is no longer a safe haven for criminal enterprises.

“The Ashanti South Regional Police Command… will intensify operations against criminal activities within its jurisdiction, cautioning offenders to desist as the area will be made increasingly hostile for illicit operations,” the Commander stated.

Security analysts believe this bust is part of a larger crackdown on the supply chains feeding substance abuse in mining communities, where high-potency drugs are often used to sustain long hours of hazardous labour.