Swedru Police arrest suspected drug dealers

The Agona Swedru Police on Monday arrested 39 suspected drug peddlers in an operation to rid the area of drug peddlers and other criminals.

Seventeen out of the 39 have been charged with various offences and would be arraigned while 12 would be granted police enquiry bail pending further investigations.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Nana Ekow Yawson, the Swedru District Police Commander told newsmen that items recovered included 17 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

A young lady aged about 24 is among those arrested.

DSP Yawson said the suspected criminals were picked from Agona Swedru Mahodwe, Dwenho, Mangoase, Yaabem, Sakora Park and Swedru old sawmills.

He said the exercise would be ongoing to flash out drug dealers and users from Agona Swedru and surrounding towns.

He said combating crime was a collective responsibility of all and appealed to the people to volunteer information to the police and called for the formation of watch dog committees in communities to help expose drug dealers.

DSP Yawson said the police would give them full backing to train the members of the Committees to assist the police to clampdown on drug peddling at Agona Swedru.

Nana Esieni, Nifahene of Swedruman Council of Chiefs, said at a workshop held last week on drug abuse and its effects that 23 Indian hemp smoking centers had been established at Agona Swedru.