Twenty–three persons, including a suspected female narcotic drug peddler and six alleged prostitutes, were arrested in Tamale after a joint swoop by the military and the police in some parts of the metropolis.
The suspects, who were rounded-up about 7 p.m. last Tuesday at the Victory Cinema, Banvim, market and Nagasaki areas, comprised 10 males and 13 females.
The police gave the name of the suspected drug peddler as Nawaratu Rauf, believed to be in her 40s.
According to the police, Nawaratu was arrested in possession of dried leaves wrapped in papers suspected to be “Indian Hemp.”
Brief
Briefing the media, the spokesperson of the Northern Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Mohammed Yussif Tanko, said the swoop was organised in partnership with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) as part of measures to rid the city of criminal elements as the Christmas season was approaching.
“We are heading towards the festive season and business activities will boom and when this happens, criminals will take advantage of that to rob people, which we are working very hard to prevent,” he explained.
The spokesperson added that the swoop was also in response to complaints received from some residents of the affected communities on the activities of criminals that were causing fear and panic at their localities.
Screening exercise
Mr Tanko said the suspects would be screened and those found culpable of any criminal offence would be prosecuted
He said the police would sustain the exercise to get rid of criminal elements in the metropolis and make it safe for all to walk freely, particularly at night.
The spokesperson further advised residents to be extra careful as the festive season was approaching and to report any suspicious characters to the police.
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