Alhaji Abdullah Sayuti has been arrested for dealing in illegal opioid
Correspondence from Northern Region
A popular drug store operator in Tamale, who has been arrested for dealing in illegal opioids, Alhaji Abdullah Sayuti, has disclosed that he invested heavily in illegal opioids.
Explaining his reasons for dealing in the illegal opioids, Alhaji Sayuti told journalists after he was arrested by the Anti-Tramadol Taskforce in Tamale on Wednesday that he could not let the money invested in the illicit business go to waste, hence his continuous involvement in it.
“It is not my intention to engage in the sale of illegal drugs, but because of the huge investment I have made in it. I don’t want my money to be wasted,” he told journalists.
Alhaji Sayuti, a popular drug store operator, was first arrested by the task force in an intelligence operation by the citizen task force on Tuesday with several packs of the illegal opioids before handing him over to the police.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, a joint operation with the police at his wholesale store in Fuo, the task force found over 400 boxes of Tramadol 120mg.
The citizen Taskforce has been operating in the Northern region to flush out the trafficking and abuse of illegal opioids.
Appearance in court
Alhaji Sayuti was later arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court presided over by His Highness Francis Asobayire, where he pleaded guilty to two charges: possession of restricted drugs without lawful authority and prohibited sale of restricted drugs without lawful authority before fainting in court.
Although he was convicted on his own plea, sentencing has been deferred to July 21, 2025.
