The Tamale Circuit Court has remanded Abdul Manan, owner of Manan Drugs Store located at Zujung in the Tamale Metropolis, into prison custody after he was arrested in connection with the possession of a large quantity of restricted pharmaceutical drugs.
The suspect, who was arraigned before the court, faces two charges — possession of restricted drugs without authorization and unlawful sale of restricted drugs. He is expected to reappear before the court on June 16, 2026, as proceedings continue.
Abdul Manan pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of restricted drugs without permission but denied allegations of unauthorized sale. Following his plea, the court convicted him on the first count and ordered his remand into custody pending further hearing on the second charge.
His arrest followed an intelligence-led anti-drug operation conducted by the Northern Regional Police Command through its Special Operations Unit, popularly known as “Red Maria,” as part of intensified efforts to curb the circulation of illicit and unapproved pharmaceutical products in the region.
According to police sources, the operation was executed by a 44-member taskforce led by Chief Inspector Abu Issahaku after surveillance indicated that suspected illegal drugs were being stored and allegedly distributed from the pharmacy shop.
Acting on a search warrant, officers stormed both the suspect’s pharmacy outlet and his residence at Zujung, where they reportedly discovered significant quantities of suspected controlled drugs intended for sale.
Items retrieved during the operation include 32 boxes of 50mg Tramadol, one box of 250mg Tramadol, one sachet of 120mg Royal Tramadol, one sachet of 100mg Tramadol, nine boxes of 32mg Astradol-P, and 24 bottles of Koffex cough syrup. All exhibits have been retained by police for evidential purposes.
The Northern Regional Police Command has intensified its crackdown on drug-related offences, particularly the illegal distribution and abuse of pharmaceutical substances, which authorities say is increasingly affecting youth populations in the region.
Police have assured the public that intelligence-led operations will continue across the Northern Region to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals involved in drug trafficking and related offences.
Authorities further reiterated their commitment to safeguarding communities and dismantling networks involved in the illegal circulation of restricted drugs.
