A Tamale Circuit Court has convicted Alhaji Abdulai Sayuti, a 53-year-old pharmaceutical distributor, for unlawful possession of restricted drugs.
The court presided over by Francis Asubayere, fined Sayuti GH¢1,680,000, equivalent to 14,000 penalty units, on each charge.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
In default of payment, he will serve 25 years in prison.
According to a myjoyonline.com report on July 21, 2025, Sayuti pleaded guilty to the charges of possessing restricted drugs and the prohibited sale of such substances.
His arrest was the result of an intelligence-led operation targeting the illegal opioid trade in Tamale and its surrounding areas.
He was initially apprehended near the Victory Cinema area in Tamale, where police found 336 blisters of tramadol (120mg) on him.
A subsequent follow-up operation uncovered a larger cache of 447 boxes of tramadol and 11 boxes of tramaking (120mg) believed to be part of his stock.
The operation formed part of an ongoing crackdown on the illegal distribution of opioids in the Northern Region, which has witnessed a rise in misuse and related criminal activity.
The arrest also followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering by security agencies and the local anti-drug taskforce, the report added.
MRA/AE
Meanwhile, watch as KOD cites diaspora investment as the key to Africa’s rise: