Personnel of the Police Service aided by staff of the Food and Drugs Authority and Pharmacy Council, have arrested two persons who deal in the sale of Tramadol in Tamale.

The suspects, Sulemana Abdul Fatawu and Abubakari Nuhu had offered to sell 250 milligrams of the banned painkiller when the officers went undercover to buy the drug over the counter, JoyNews' Martina Bugri reports.

The weight approved by the FDA to be sold is 50mg and 100mg, therefore, selling 250mg over the counter suggests, the drugs were smuggled into the country.

Approved by FDA

Four others were also arrested for operating pharmacists without appropriate licenses. They are Abdul Rahman Hardi, Adam Haruna, Abdul Rafique Yakubu and Zakaria Musah.

Crime Officer of the Northern Police Command, Superintendent Kusi Appiah said a search is yet to be conducted on the premises of the suspects.

Supt. Appiah said the police is currently mobilising men to move to the area while the FDA has put its locks to secure the place.

Tramadol, a restricted medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, has become almost “a street drug” for the treatment of a normal pain like a headache, sometimes with approval from health practitioners.

Dr Yao Mfodwo

A mental health expert, Dr Yao Mfodwo, recently called for urgent action to discontinue the increasing abuse of strong pain reliever, Tramadol, which has become very popular among the public, particularly the youth.

Speaking on Joy FM, Dr Yao Mfodwo, a Consultant Psychiatrist at The Brain Clinic at Abokobi in Accra, fears continued use and abuse of the drug can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

“It is as bad as a very silent Ebola or a very silent Lassa fever,” he lamented.