A team of military and police swoop in Tamale has arrested 18 suspected criminals with quantities of dry leaves suspected to be marijuana.

Eight motorbikes were also recovered after the suspects run away and left them behind in Thursday’s exercise.

The suspects are currently in detention whiles investigations are underway.

The team raided areas noted as hideouts for criminals in the Tamale metropolis such as T Poly, Kaladan and Geshunayili.

A statement signed by the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yussif Tanko, said the aim of the exercise was to ensure regular security operations at locations where criminals gather and plan their activities.

He said the exercise will continue at other places outside and within the metropolis to clean the region and ensure that law-abiding citizens are not threatened and attacked by criminals.

DSP Tanko appealed to the citizenry in the region to support the police with information on suspected criminals to ensure the area is raided of criminal activities.