The IGP Special Operations Team has arrested 17 suspected drug-peddlers and retrieving several exhibits during an operation at the Waterworks area, a known hotspot for criminal gangs and drug peddling.

The team, over the past few weeks, said it has made significant arrests through sustained operations, including the rescue of a man who was kidnapped.

Acting on intelligence, operatives swooped on the area and recovered quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, eight bottles of Koffex cough syrup, two sachets of suspected opioid tablets, and a motorbike.

The suspects were taken to the Sakasaka Police Station for detention and further investigations, while the exhibits were handed over to investigators for screening and forensic analysis.

The operation was executed without any casualties and has enhanced police visibility while strengthening collaboration with traditional authorities in tackling drug-related crimes in the Tamale Metropolis and Tolon District.

In a statement signed by ASP Alhaji Bawah Jalil, the Special Operations Team reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining such operations to ensure peace, security, and public confidence in the Northern Region.

He said the operation was carried out by a 49-member team from the IGP Special Operations Unit, led by ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil, with the aim of combating illicit drug peddling, robbery, and other criminal activities in Tamale and Tolon.

ASP Bawah noted that the operation, conducted on December 13, 2025, involved intensified patrols and searches in Tamale and Kasalgu, as well as courtesy calls on the Chiefs of Tolon and Nyankpala to engage traditional authorities in the fight against serious crimes.

He added that the Chiefs welcomed the team and pledged their support, expressing concern over the rising abuse of drugs among the youth and the need for sustained operations to restore sanity in the communities.