Laws on drug being reviewed

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA- Government is reviewing PNDC Law 236/1990 on drug trafficking, with a view to incorporating a new international convention and updating the law.

In order to ensure that the personnel of the Narcotics Unit of the Police Service are less attracted to the financial inducements from drug baron, a special financial package is also being worked out for the personnel and others that handle drug issues.

Mr Kawmina Bartels, Interior Minister, said these in parliament on Thursday in response to a question on steps being taking to curb the involvement of some policemen in drug and drug related matters. The Minister said drug barons and traffickers are increasingly using West African countries for smuggling cocaine from Latin America into Europe and North America.

"What is worse is that Ghana's entry points are gradually being used as transit points for drug trafficking and this development is of great concern to the government."

He said this unhealthy situation has assumed alarming proportions with reports that some police personnel who are to combat the menace are rather actively involved in drug trafficking.

"It is observed that drug barons all over the world try to infiltrate the ranks of the security services mandated to combat drug trafficking."

He said government was instituting special packages for the police and other security personnel who actively help arrest dealers in narcotic drugs.

"A joint team of police personnel and Narcotics Control Board officials is being established to handle the drug menace." Mr. Bartels said in the area of maritime drug trafficking, the World Customs Organisation and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime are collaborating to assist Ghana to undertake container profiling to check on drugs.