By Issah Olegor
In one of the most high-profile narcotics convictions in the Northern Region in recent times, a Tamale Circuit Court has sentenced a well-known pharmaceutical distributor, Alhaji Abdulai Sayuti, to 25 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of unlawful possession and distribution of restricted drugs.
The court, presided over by Francis Asobayere, also imposed a hefty fine of GH₵1,680,000 on the convict in lieu of prison.
The 53-year-old, a prominent figure in the Tamale pharmaceutical supply chain, was arrested during a coordinated anti-narcotics operation that forms part of a broader crackdown on the illegal trade in opioids across the Northern Region.
The operation, spearheaded by law enforcement agencies, followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering targeting suspected drug traffickers in the region.
Sayuti’s arrest occurred near the Victory Cinema area in Tamale, where officers intercepted him in possession of 336 blisters of tramadol (120mg)—a highly abused painkiller that has been classified as a restricted drug due to its addictive properties and role in rising drug dependency among Ghanaian youth.
His plea of guilty to both the possession and the illegal sale of restricted substances led to an immediate conviction last week awaiting sentencing on Monday.
Prosecutors revealed that the arrest was only the tip of the iceberg, as a follow-up operation led authorities to a much larger cache of contraband.
Subsequent raids uncovered 447 boxes of tramadol (120mg) and 11 boxes of a similar restricted substance known as tramaking (120mg).
These were allegedly being stockpiled for unauthorized distribution across Tamale and adjoining communities.
The magnitude of the seizure is considered one of the largest tramadol hauls in the region’s history.
Prosecutors have signaled their intention to arraign Sayuti before the Tamale High Court in connection with this broader trafficking network, as the current Circuit Court conviction relates only to the smaller batch found directly on him.
The Northern Region has in recent years been grappling with a worrying surge in opioid misuse, with tramadol emerging as the drug of choice among youth and manual workers seeking a temporary escape from hardship or to enhance physical endurance.
This rise in addiction has led to an increase in drug-related illnesses, mental health issues, and criminal activity.
Anti-drug task forces in Tamale and across the north have stepped up enforcement efforts, often with limited resources, to curb the growing epidemic.
Several seizures and arrests have taken place over the past 18 months, but authorities say the scale of the trade remains alarming, with smugglers exploiting porous borders and corrupt networks within the pharmaceutical supply chain.
For now, he faces either the full payment of the GH₵1.68 million fine or a 25-year custodial sentence in default—an outcome that underscores the seriousness with which the judiciary is treating the crisis.
Further investigations into the source and intended distribution network of the seized drugs are ongoing.
Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of other individuals or businesses in the supply chain.
