Two persons charged for possessing Indian hemp

Two persons, who were arrested with six parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, were on Thursday remanded into prison custody by a circuit court in Accra.

Joseph Kwame Boso, 19, a trader, and Reuben Nakorle, 18, a shoeshine boy, have been charge with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and possessing narcotic drugs.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, would re-appear before court on August 7. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick A. Morkeh, told the court that the complainant, Joseph Abo Tetteh is a policeman stationed in Accra and Boso and Nakorle hails from Nkruakan and Huhuya, in the Eastern Region.

He said on July 17, the accused persons went to a village near Boti falls also in the Eastern Region, and bought dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and wrapped them into six parcels.

DSP Morkeh said on July 18, Boso gave Nakorle money for transportation and a cell phone and instructed him to send the six parcels of dried leaves to a customer in Accra.

The prosecution said Boso directed Nakorle that on reaching Accra, he should board a taxi and dial the number given to him to the taxi driver to talk to the receiver for directions.

DSP Morkeh said Nakorle on reaching Golden Tulip in Accra, joined a taxi and dialed the phone number given him by Boso to the taxi driver to communicate to the receiver.

He said the receiver directed the taxi driver to drive to Las Palmas Restaurant near Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

DSP Morkeh said on their arrival, Nakorle’s phone went off so he removed his chip and put it into the phone of the driver and dialed the number again and the receiver promised to contact them.

The prosecution said they waited for more than 45 minutes, but the receiver did not show up and whiles waiting the police arrested Nakorle.

DSP Morkeh said Boso in his caution statement admitted the offence, but said it was Nakorle who introduced him to the business.

The prosecution said Nakorle also claimed he was sent by Boso, to deliver the stuff to a customer in Accra.**