Police smoke drug peddlers out

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - The Police at Osu on Monday rounded up 29 persons suspected be drug peddlers operating at the Osu Presbyterian Secondary School during a swoop.

The suspects who were between 19 years to 35 years old were found to have been invading the school premises to smoke and sell Indian hemp. Speaking to the GNA, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) James Annor, Osu District Police Commander, said following complainants by the School's Authorities and some concerned citizens the Police mounted the operation at about 0530 hours on Monday.

He said the swoop, which was the second in three months in which 23 of such people were arrested and prosecuted, would continue adding, "the Police would continue to mount more exercises in obscured and public places for peace loving people to enjoy the Christmas=94. The Osu Presbyterian Secondary shared the same premises with its Junior Secondary School, which has a boarding school facility and was walled and fenced with electric mesh to ward off intruders and yet some users of those facilities such as netball, volleyball pitch as well as the school campus for training engaged in immoral activities. ASP Annor said the activities of the suspects were making life uncomfortable and dangerous to the students and School's Authorities. He appealed to people living in the community, who might want to use the school field for any sporting activity to consult the School's Authorities so that they could distinguish between unscrupulous persons, who used the school park as smoking place.

"It is not the intention of the Police to disallow the members of the community from using the school field for any sporting activity but we would use force to ward off persons, who disguise themselves as sportsmen," ASP Annor warned.

He cautioned persons who visit beaches among others places to sell drugs and smoke to stay away from those areas as the Police would smoke them out.

The District Commander said the 29 suspects would be charged and put before court.

When Madam Denis Duah Oye Welbeck, Head Mistress of the was contacted, she said she had complained to the Police and opinion leaders in the Osu Community over the years but the suspects continued to misuse the premises.

She said there had been instances where the intruders had smashed her car.

"Although we have day and night watchmen, they are unable to control those who entered the school premises=94 she said.