Northern Regional Police secure 40 convictions in Red Maria crackdown
The convictions have led to a mix of financial penalties and jail terms. According to the police, fines imposed by the courts range from GH¢2,400 to GH¢120,000, while custodial sentences run from 15 months to 15 years.
Police in the Northern Region say a sustained anti-crime operation has already produced 40 convictions, in what commanders describe as a significant early result from the newly formed Red Maria team.
The convictions have led to a mix of financial penalties and jail terms. According to the police, fines imposed by the courts range from GH¢2,400 to GH¢120,000, while custodial sentences run from 15 months to 15 years.
The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, said the outcomes followed intelligence-driven operations carried out in crime-prone areas such as Taxi Rank, Aboabo and Nobisco Forest.
He told a media briefing in Tamale on 7 April 2026 that more than 200 suspects had been arrested since the operations began in March.
Among the offences targeted by the team are drug possession, prostitution and unlawful assembly, which police say have featured prominently in the arrests made so far.
DCOP Lavoe explained that Red Maria was set up after the disbandment of the earlier Black Maria unit, with the new team tasked specifically with tackling offences including robbery and drug trafficking.
He said the courts have so far brought in GH¢72,000 in fines from convicted persons. Of the 40 people convicted, 32 paid fines while eight received prison sentences. Police also said 31 other suspects remain on remand.
The commander praised residents for cooperating with law enforcement and appealed for continued public support as the campaign against crime in the region continues.
He added that the police have also received positive feedback from a range of stakeholders, including traditional leaders, who have welcomed the effort to improve security.
