Fante Kenkey wee tests positive

The 100 compressed parcels of Indian hemp (wee) in Fante Kenkey leaves en route from Ghana to the United Kingdom (UK) forwarded for forensic examination, have tested positive for wee.

Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka yesterday told an Accra circuit court that the results of the tests were ready.

However, the trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, dismissed an application for bail filed by Anthony Lamoh, counsel for the accused persons – Kwaku Boateng, 47, a travel and tour agent and Yaw Opoku, 62, driver. He was seeking bail on medical grounds.

The judge held that the medical condition of the accused person as per the documents available to the court was not sufficient enough to warrant the bail.

Mr. Tandoh stated that the accused persons must be given medical attention whenever the need arises; and set January 18, 2016, for the hearing of the case to begin.

According to the prosecution led by C/Supt. Tuaruka, the accused persons on October 19, 2015, at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, conspired and possessed the narcotic drug without lawful authority.

. Kwaku and Yaw have been charged for attempted exportation of narcotic drug without lawful authority, contrary to sections 56(a) and (1) of the Narcotic Drug Enforcement Drug Control Enforcement (Control and Sanctions) of PNDC Law 236/1990.

The two have denied the charges.

The facts of the case are that the complainants who are police officers, at 8 pm on the said day, received information that the accused persons had stuffed a Hyundai HI mini bus with cartons of compressed dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp meant for export to the UK.

The prosecution said the complainants went to the airport and laid surveillance until about 10:30 pm when they saw the said vehicle with registration number GB 5409-12 being driven by Yaw and heading towards the Aviance Cargo section of the airport.

It further stated that Yaw Opoku, upon interrogation told the police that it was kenkey but when one of the packages was opened it revealed 10 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp wrapped in Fante kenkey leaves.