Police bust Indian hemp smuggling syndicate

Kumasi, June 26, GNA -A combined team of personnel from the Police Narcotic Units in Accra, Kumasi and Nyinahin, have seized a quantity of marijuana with a street value of over 100 million cedis.

The suspects, Akwasi Addae, 22, a mason, Akwasi Agyei, 22, mason and Kofi Addo, were arrested with 100 maxi bags, 196 compressed parcels and some seeds of marijuana, which have been certified by Police Forensic Laboratory.

Addressing a news conference in Kumasi on Monday, Dr Kofi Kesse Manfo, Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Ashanti Region, said the suspects have already appeared before the Ashanti Regional Tribunal and remanded in custody to re-appear on June 29.

A fourth accused, Akwasi Poku, a 26 year-old driver of a mini bus, which was used to convey the stuff, was granted bail by the tribunal. Dr Manfo said that at dawn on March 13, this year, police at Nyinahin intercepted the mini bus loaded with 64 maxi bags of marijuana.

He said on June 1, police had information that Akwasi Poku had sought refuge at his home village, Humgyebre near Sefwi-Bekwai in the Western Region. He was arrested and he claimed ownership of the 64 maxi bags.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander said Addae led the police to Nsawkaw in the Brong-Ahafo Region to arrest Agyei from whom he allegedly bought 15 maxi bags and when Agyei's room was searched, some seeds of marijuana were found in a polythene bag.

He said in a room next to that of Agyei, 16 maxi bags were found in addition to 10 other bags, which contained 196 compressed parcels of the stuff. Dr Manfo announced that the Ashanti Regional Police Administration has intensified drug enforcement and education in schools, colleges and through the media.