Court remands trader on drug charges

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded one Kwasi Karikari into police custody for possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

Karikari, allegedly, had in his possession a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been remanded to reappear before the court on September 12, 2014.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Morkeh told the court that the accused, who is a trader, resides at Achimota and has a kiosk around the railway line in the same area where he allegedly sells iced water.

He said at about 0420 hours on August 20, 2014, an Accra Regional Police command night patrol team detailed for duties at Achimota and its environs spotted a group of young men in front of the accused person’s kiosk.

DSP Morkeh said the team got down from the police vehicle and walked towards the scene to find out what was happening, but the young men on seeing the security personnel took to their heels but Karikari was arrested in front of the kiosk.

The prosecution said during interrogation, Karikari admitted that the kiosk belonged to him.

A search conducted in the kiosk revealed a black polythene bag containing five wrappers and quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp,a pair of scissors, two lighters, two metal smoking pipes and an amount of GHc 603.00.

DSP Morkeh told the court that the accused person was escorted to the Accra Regional Criminal Investigative Department office for investigation, and in his caution statement claimed ownership of the kiosk but denied ownership of the narcotic substance.