Police Reject $20,000 Bribe From Nigerian, Arrest Suspect Transporting GH¢1.032 Million in Narcotics
- Police thwarted a major drug smuggling attempt near Ada Junction, seizing narcotics valued at GH¢1.032 million
- The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Charles Adenkule, reportedly offered a $20,000 bribe after the drug discovery
- Ongoing investigations involved a joint task force, with further scrutiny into the Liberty Jeep used for transportation
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Police officers in the Volta Region rejected a reported $20,000 bribe from a man transporting narcotics to Nigeria.
The suspect was arrested on January 21, 2026, after the narcotics worth GH¢1.032 million were intercepted.
Source: UGC
The Chronicle reported that the suspect was identified as 46-year-old Nigerian international Charles Adenkule.
He was stopped at the Kpotame barrier, located between Ada Junction in the Greater Accra Region and Sogakope, in the South Tongu district, at about 6:30 pm.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 10 parcels of compressed substances suspected to be coke and about half a kilogram of compressed dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp hidden behind the vehicle’s inner lining.
The operation was the result of actionable intelligence, which was acted on by a joint taskforce comprising officials from the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU), and four personnel from the Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).
GH¢1 million in narcotics seized after search
The source told The Chronicle that at exactly 6:30 pm, the aforementioned vehicle pulled up at the barrier and was signalled to stop.
A careful search led to the discovery of the illicit drug, and, having realised that his cover had been blown, Adenkule, the suspected carrier, allegedly offered a $20,000 bribe to secure his release.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue, while the Liberty Jeep has been impounded at the Volta Regional Police Headquarters in Ho.
Similar shows of integrity from police have happened in the past, with the police arresting four people with 104 bags of narcotics during a special operation in 2023.
Officers from the service who intercepted the narcotics and arrested the suspects are said to have rejected a GH¢20,000 bribe offered to them by the suspects.
That incident occurred in Lolonya near Sege in the Greater Accra Region, according to a post on X that outlined the intelligence operation.
Source: Facebook
IGP warns public over bribery
The Ada incident comes after Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, expressed confidence in the integrity of police personnel.
He believes they no longer accept money or material things from civilians as a form of bribe.
The IGP explained that the Ghana Police Service is working tirelessly to become one of the best forces in the world, hence no more acceptance of bribes.
He assured that anyone who tries to bribe a police officer would be disgraced.
"Today, I assure you that you cannot bribe a policeman anymore. If you attempt to bribe a policeman, they will disgrace you. He wants a promotion. We want to be one of the best police forces in the world, and we are carving that image for generation upon generation to follow it so that we get our glory back and make everybody in Ghana proud."
Perception of corruption in police service
YEN.com.gh reported that in 2025, the Ghana Statistical Service stated that the top public institutions perceived as prone to bribery were the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Division, Police General Duties, the Police Criminal Investigation Department, and the Traffic Management Authority/City Guard.
The report also indicated that 18.4% of Ghanaians had admitted to giving a bribe in 2024. According to an Afrobarometer Survey conducted in 2024, only 23% of Ghanaians felt the police always operated professionally, with the country's law enforcement services working to dispel this negative perception.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
