The Greater Accra Police Command has arrested two men, Mark Bangel and Zakaria Arafat, for allegedly attempting to bribe a police officer with GH¢30,000 in a narcotics case. According to Supt. Juliana Obeng, the incident occurred on September 11, 2026, after police intercepted a Kia Rhino truck suspected of transporting narcotic substances. The truck was traveling from Kpandai to Accra, and the occupants fled, leaving behind 175 compressed slabs of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs.
The police recovered the suspected narcotic substances, concealed in three sacks and three "Ghana Must Go" bags, and conveyed them to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters for further investigation. During the investigation, Bangel and Arafat claimed ownership of the truck and the recovered substances. They allegedly attempted to influence the Bravo SWAT Unit Commander by offering him GH¢30,000 to secure the release of the vehicle and the suspected narcotic substances.
The two suspects were arrested, and the alleged bribe money was retrieved by the police. According to Supt. Obeng, further investigations revealed that a third person, identified as Salam, allegedly drove the truck and the suspected narcotic substances from Kpandai to Accra. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend Salam.
The suspects, Bangel and Arafat, are assisting the police with investigations, while the suspected narcotic substances and the truck remain in police custody as exhibits. The allegations against the suspects have not yet been tested in court. Bangel is a trader from Kpandai in the Oti Region, and Arafat describes himself as a mechanic residing in Kpando in the Volta Region.
The incident is part of a broader effort by the police to combat narcotics trafficking in the region. Recently, the Oti Police intercepted a truck with 5,164 suspected narcotic parcels. The police have also launched a manhunt for a female suspect who allegedly stole a 5-month-old baby at Asafo Market.
The Ghana Police Service has been cracking down on suspected drug activities, with several arrests and seizures reported in recent weeks. In Tamale, five people were arrested, and pistols and narcotics were seized. The police have also dismantled a gang in the Upper East, resulting in the deaths of three suspected robbers.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges of narcotics trafficking in Ghana and the efforts of the police to address the issue. The suspects will face justice if found guilty, and the police will continue to work to apprehend all individuals involved in the narcotics trade.
Key points
- Two men arrested for attempting to bribe police officer with GH¢30,000 in narcotics case
- Suspected narcotic substances and truck recovered, with 175 compressed slabs of dried leaves found
- Police efforts underway to apprehend third suspect, Salam, allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking
