Two men have been arrested in Accra for allegedly offering GH¢30,000 to a police officer to secure the release of a truck loaded with 175 slabs of suspected narcotic drugs.
The suspects, identified as Mark Bangel, a trader from Kpandai in the Northern Region, and Zakaria Arafat, a mechanic from Kpando in the Volta Region, were arrested at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters.
The Head of Public Affairs of the Accra Regional Police Command, Chief Superintendent Juliana Obeng, disclosed this in Accra yesterday.
She said the drugs were intercepted following information received by the police that suspected narcotic substances were being distributed to customers at Abofu, near Achimota.
According to her, on Friday, September 11, 2026, personnel of the Bravo SWAT Unit received information that suspected narcotic drugs had been loaded onto a Kia Rhino truck with registration number GN 5581-13 from Kpandai and was being operated around Achimota and its surrounding areas.
She said the police traced the vehicle to Abofu, but its occupants abandoned it and fled after seeing the officers.
A search of the vehicle subsequently led to the discovery of 175 compressed slabs of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs, concealed in three sacks and three “Ghana Must Go” bags.
Chief Superintendent Obeng said the two suspects later reported to the police headquarters and claimed ownership of the truck and the recovered substances.
She said they allegedly offered GH¢30,000 to the Bravo SWAT Unit Commander to secure the release of the truck and the suspected drugs.
“The money was retrieved by the police, leading to the arrest of the two suspects. Investigations have also revealed the name of a third suspect, identified only as Salam,” she said.
Chief Superintendent Obeng said Salam was alleged to have driven the truck and the suspected drugs from Kpandai to Accra.
She said the police were making efforts to arrest him, while the two suspects were assisting with investigations.
The vehicle and the recovered substances have since been retained by the police as exhibits.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
You can now read the *Ghanaian Times* and *The Spectator* newspapers digitally on [TimesNewsPlus](https://timesnewsplus.com/newspapers).
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
