Drug thieves land in trouble

Accra Oct. 27, GNA - Two persons accused of stealing drugs worth 463.8 million cedis from a pharmaceutical company in Accra on Wednesday appeared before a circuit court charged with conspiracy and stealing. James Omaboe, a labourer and James Laryea, unemployed, pleaded not guilty and are on 500 million cedis bail with a surety each. The court further granted various bail terms totalling 220 million cedis to six persons, who dishonestly received the drugs. They are Yaw Issah, Prince Danso, Lawerence Darko, Yaw Baah Dankyi and Kofi Boamah, all chemical sellers in Accra.

They are to reappear on November 24.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr George Abavelim said the complainant is a pharmacist and the director, Sharp Pharmaceuticals Limited located at Asylum Down, in Accra.

He said Sharp Pharmaceuticals are sole manufacturers and distributors of Manix and stallion capsules in Ghana.

On Sept 28 this year, after taking stock, the Company detected the theft of 21 cartons of manix capsules, five cartons of stallion capsules, 55 cartons of Bro- Zedex and 42 cartons of Workadine gargle. Prosecution said the Company alerted its customers both in Accra and Kumasi.

On September 29, this year, the Company received information that some persons were offering some of their drugs for sale at a cheaper price. The Police laid surveillance and arrested Issah when he came for his money after selling some of the drugs and during interrogation he mentioned Omaboe as the one who gave him the drugs to sell.

Omaboe also mentioned Laryea as one of his accomplices. Prosecution said Omaboe, however, led the Police to some customers to whom he had supplied some of the drugs.

Only eight cartons of the assorted drugs were retrieved.