By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada
Credit / GhanaWeb
A major consignment of restricted opioids has been intercepted by police in the Ashanti South Region after an operation at the Tweapease barrier along the Obuasi–Dunkwa highway led to the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of hundreds of packs of controlled drugs.
Speaking at Bekwai on Monday, February 16, 2026, Ashanti South Regional Police Commander Joseph Hammond Nyaaba explained that the seizure followed a routine stop-and-search exercise conducted on February 13. Officers halted a red OA KIA Grandbird bus travelling toward Ayamfuri in the Central Region and carried out a search.
“Upon intercepting the bus, our officers conducted a search and found two sealed brown boxes containing the drugs, and the bus driver, Josephine Krumah, 37, was immediately arrested,” he stated.
The boxes were found to contain 257 packs of Tramadol and 58 packs of Tapentadol, widely known by the street name Royal. During questioning, the driver allegedly identified the owner of the consignment.
“He mentioned one Perpetual, a native of Ayamfuri, as the owner of the drugs,” the commander noted while detailing the next stage of the investigation.
According to police, developments escalated the following day when individuals believed to be connected to the shipment arrived at the checkpoint while investigations were still underway.
“On the next day, February 14, 2026, while investigations were underway, the owner of the drugs together with three others namely Dynamics and Abena, 43, and another suspect, 35, showed up at the same checkpoint with GH¢50,000 to grease the palms of the police. The police took the money and immediately arrested Perpetual and her three friends for further investigations,” he said.
All five suspects have since been processed before court under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 852), which regulates the handling and distribution of controlled substances. Police say further investigations are ongoing to identify any wider network connected to the attempted shipment.
Boakye Stephen | Commentary :
In a climate where public institutions are often tested, the officers at Tweapease demonstrated that the uniform still carries honour. Faced with a cash inducement, they stood their ground, choosing integrity over greed, and the nation over their pocket.
Rejecting GH¢50,000 in the course of duty is not a small gesture; it is a statement. It affirms respect for the badge, loyalty to the law, and commitment to the safety of communities affected by drug trafficking. Actions like this rebuild confidence in law enforcement and remind the public that some officers remain guided by principle rather than profit.
Ghana’s battle against opioid abuse and organised trafficking requires exactly this level of resolve. When officers refuse compromise and carry out their mandate faithfully, they protect not only lives but the moral strength of the state.
