A Tamale Circuit Court has convicted a man for the unlawful possession and sale of restricted drugs, imposing a fine of GH¢120,000 or, in default, a five-year prison sentence with hard labour.
The convict, Napari Baba Nindow, pleaded guilty to the charge of selling restricted drugs without lawful authority.
In addition to the fine, the court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour for possessing restricted drugs without lawful authority.
Nindow’s conviction follows his arrest by the Northern Regional Police Command’s CTU Special Team, popularly known as the “Red Maria” team, during a special operation conducted at Savelugu on June 2, 2026.
According to police, the suspect was arrested with quantities of suspected narcotic drugs, commonly known as wee, as well as restricted drugs, including tramadol.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Francis Asobayire, where he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of restricted drugs without lawful authority and prohibited sale of restricted drugs without lawful authority.
For the sale of restricted drugs, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with a default sentence of five years imprisonment with hard labour. The court also handed him a separate three-year custodial sentence for possessing restricted drugs without lawful authority.
However, Nindow pleaded not guilty to additional charges of possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs.
The court has adjourned proceedings on those outstanding charges to June 29, 2026.
Police say the convict is currently in custody pending mandatory COVID-19 screening before being transferred to prison to begin serving his sentence.
