Customs officials intercept arms

Customs officials at the Aflao border between Ghana and Togo at the weekend intercepted two Nigeria-bound vehicles carrying large quantities of ammunition concealed in petrol tanks and two double-barrelled gun butts.

Ejike Anumeayi, 33, and Samuel Obiayulu, 42, who were driving the cars with registration numbers AM 359GDD and BL195AAA, have been remanded in police custody by the Aflao Circuit Court to re-appear on November 13.

Inspector Kofi Frimpong told the court, presided over by Mr Francis Opoku, that Anumeayi, who plies between Nigeria and Ghana, pulled up at the Aflao border on Friday, November 3.

He said a routine search on the vehicle by customs officials uncovered 417 pieces of ammunition, two double-barrelled gun butts and four wrappers containing dry leaves suspected to be cannabis concealed in a false compartment of the petrol tank of the car.

Inspector Frimpong said the suspect, who refused to mention the source of the ammunition, said he uses the cannabis to cure asthma. The prosecutor said Obiayulu, who also plies between Nigeria and Ghana, pulled up at the border on Sunday, November 5.

An examination conducted on his car led to the discovery of 60 packets of ammunition containing 1,495 pieces (AA and BB) cartridges concealed in a false compartment of the petrol tank.

Inspector Frimpong said the accused alleged that he hatched the plan to smuggle the ammunition with one Anthony, a Ghanaian, who is on the run for higher returns.

In another development, a Ghanaian, Anna Yao Asiedu, 31, who attempted to smuggle six large wrappers containing substances suspected to be cannabis has been arrested by customs officials.

He was remanded in police custody by the Aflao circuit court to appear on November 13 while the substance has been sent to the police forensic laboratory for testing.

Inspector Frimpong told the court that a search on Asiedu by customs officials at the departure hall on his way from Aflao to Togo on November 4 revealed the six large wrappers concealed around his waist. Asiedu told the officials that he was given the substance by a woman in Aflao to deliver in Togo but failed to mention any names.