Five Indian hemp peddlers appear in court

Sunyani, Nov 10, GNA- A nursing mother and four others arrested in a special operation at Yabraso in Wenchi District at the weekend for possessing large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, were on Monday arraigned before the Sunyani Magistrate's Court. Abena Pokuaa, the nursing mother and Akosua Bronya, a 50-year-old farmer were granted 20 million cedis bail each with a surety to appear again on November 17, whilst Ayuba Veleo, charcoal burner, Kayitey Dery, farmer and Barnabas Kwabena, farmer were remanded.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alex Yartey Tawiah told the court that a team of Police personnel and officials of the Narcotics Control Board on November 7 conducted a nationwide operation to clamp down on drug peddlers.

He said police personnel from Wenchi led by Superintendent Alexander Bedie, Commander of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Superintendent Alex Mensah, Regional Crime Officer, arrested the five persons at Yabraso with quantities of the dried leaves.

ASP Tawiah said many residents took to their heels during the operation but the five were arrested.