Police helpless as drug peddling gangs vary tactics to outwit arrest

The Ashanti Regional Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Police command has expressed concern drug peddlers are varying their tactics to outwit police surveillance.

The service says the junkies no longer use the old and known enclaves like Tinker, Reform, Asafo, Dichemso and Bantama where such activities hither to persisted.

Speaking to Ultimate News’ Patricia Ama Bonsu, the Head of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit Assistant Superintendent of Police Jeremiah Alale admitted that his outfit had failed to clutch a paw on the drug trade menace in the region.

“To be honest with you, I will be a liar if I say we have won the battle against drugs. It has taken a new dimension that I am not happy with. The drug peddling bases have relocated because of fear and they have changed their duration from day time and this time they do it deep into the night,” he said.

ASP Alele was the more concerned; drug peddling gangs in the region are on a crusade to get more youth addicted to narcotic substances.

“And the most disturbing aspect of it is that, young ones even children, primary school pupils are into it. The drug users are now on a crusade to win more members into their fold and they say catch them young,” he lamented.

ASP Alele further pointed out that the laws that make drug offences bailable, has further emboldened drug peddlers to expand their trade because they could now easily return to society to continue their illegal narcotics business.

He explained with worry that, “In drug related offenses, when you arrest the suspect on possession, you have to trace the source. So that you get to the end so keep him there by way of remanding him for us to complete the investigation. But no, as soon as you get to court, bail granted and the next day, he is back there at the base.”

Recounting an incident to buttress his point, he narrated that, “I went with my boys to Ejura last night. Someone who was granted bail was there and he managed to escape us. So I think that drug related business is going to boom by the mere declaration of section 76 of the criminal procedure unconstitutional.”