57 cocaine pushers nabbed in Police swoop

Three hundred police officers, drawn from the Formed Police Unit (FPU), Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), Accra, Tema and National Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) have swooped on 57 suspected criminals and marijuana users.

The operation, organised by the Police Headquarters Operation and the Tema Regional Police Command, was a simultaneous one and it lasted for five hours.

The joint operation took place on the dawn of October 23 and the team was led by the Commissioner of Police (COP) John Kudalor.

The police intelligence-led operation targeted hideouts of criminals, drug pushers and traders in locations in Tema Newtown, Ashaiman and Tema Community One.

The dawn operation was aimed at ridding Tema and Ashaiman of criminals. Among the 57 were three women and the suspects have consequently been charged for various offences, ranging from unlawful possession of narcotics and using of narcotic.

Among the suspects were those who had been on the police wanted list for other criminal offences. After thorough screening, the police charged eight suspects for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and use of narcotics.

Exhibits found on the eight included parcels and wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp, one compressed brown parcel and a white polyethene bag, both containing whitish powdered substance, suspected to be cocaine, 553 wrappers of powdered substance suspected to be heroin and an amount of GHC4,379.10 suspected to be proceeds from the sale of the narcotics.

Besides, harmful implements such as pair of scissors, jack knives, razor blades, packets of matches, hacksaw blades, chisels and crowbars were found on some of the suspects.

The exhibits have been forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for examination while investigations continue to arm the police to arraign the 57 before court.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Beatrice Vib-Sanziri Zakpaa, Tema Regional Police Commander, explained that the operation was to usher in the Christmas, adding that the swoop will be sustained to ensure that the Tema Police Region is safe for law-abiding citizens who will go about their daily activities before, during and after the Yuletide.

3She appealed to the public to provide police with tips on hideouts and activities of criminals so they can be arrested and dealt with according to the law.

The next day October 24, a Ghanaian, Hamidu Amadu, 30, and a 45-year-old Nigerian, Adamu Gariba, were arrested the by Tema Regional Police Command for possession of 30 slabs of narcotic drugs suspected to be Indian hemp, without lawful authority.

The two were arrested at Gariba’s house at Community ‘9’, Tema, after two policemen on a motorbike and patrolling, smelt Indian hem within the area of their operation.

The patrol biking policemen traced the smoke that led them to a wooden structure which was inhabited by Gariba.

A search the police conducted in his room revealed 30 slabs of the dried leaves which police suspected to be Indian hemp. Police subsequently arrested him and seized the dried leaves.

Gariba claimed ownership of exhibits but declined to give further information about its source.

2When police decided to send him to the police station, Gariba called his accomplice, Hamidu Amadu, a trader, who investigations later revealed that he is a resident of Jericho, a suburb of Ashaiman.

He hurried to Gariba’s house where he offered GHC500 with Gariba topping up with CFA 50,000 as bribe to the policemen.

The policemen took the bribe and arrested Hamidu Amadu and Gariba Hamidu and handed them, together with the money and dried leaves to the Tema Regional Police Command.

The suspects have been charged with possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority and giving bribe to influence public officer. They are due for court later.