The DLEU in Tamale is equipped with drug testing kits and motorbikes whiles other equipment including a vehicle will be supplied to the Unit before the end of the year to enhance the work of personnel assigned to the Unit.

The establishment of the DLEU is in line with a project entitled: “Technical Assistance Project to Ghanaian Authorities to Counter Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime” under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Project XAMU50 – Assistance to the ECOWAS and Member States in West Africa for the Development and Implementation of Drug Control and Crime Prevention Strategies”.

The project seeks to provide a comprehensive support to DLEUs of the Criminal Investigations Department and the Ghana Police Service and sister law enforcement agencies to fight drugs trade in the country.

The project has received support from the United States (US) Government’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the UNODC.Mr James Oppong Boanuh, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who opened the DLEU at the Regional Police Headquarters in Tamale on Wednesday, urged officers assigned to the Unit to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties to ensure efficiency.

The officers assigned to the DLEU have been provided with basic and advanced drug trafficking investigation training courses and a ‘best practice’ handbook as a reference guide to increase professionalism and to effectively address the challenges posed by illicit drug trafficking in the country.

Mr Oppong Boanuh urged officers not to bow to pressure from any quarters but to be fair, firm and impartial in enforcing the laws to protect the interest of the country.He said illicit drugs increased crime rate and urged members of the public to cooperate with officers in the fight against drugs in the region.

Mr Salifu Saaed, Northern Regional Minister, appealed for more support in terms of resources for the Police in the region to enhance their work because the region was vast and required a lot more resources to ensure efficiency.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Felix Fosu-Agyeman, Deputy Northern Regional Police Commander, said the drug crime was on the increase in the region as it recorded 10 cases in 2015, 11 cases in 2016, 15 cases in 2017, and 18 cases so far this year.

ACP Fosu-Agyeman said the Regional Police Command would use every legal means to combat drug crimes and urged the public to report persons cultivating or dealing in illicit drugs.

Mr Luke Durkin, Deputy Political Chief at US Embassy, in Accra assured that the US Government would continue to support the government to eliminate the drugs trade.Mr Enrico Biasutti, Political Attache at Italian Embassy in Accra, presented two motorbikes and some drugs testing kits to the DLEU in Tamale saying it was to enhance work of the Unit.