Two alleged Venezuelan drug barons remanded

Accra, Nov. 28, GNA - Two Venezuelans, who were arrested last week at East Legon in Accra for allegedly possessing 580 kilograms of a substance suspected to be narcotic drugs were on Monday remanded in Police custody when they appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. The Court did not take the plea of Joel Mella, 35 and Italo Cabeza Castillo, 38, but ordered them to reappear on December 12 to enable the Police to continue with their investigations.

The Rapid Response Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department at the Police Headquarters last Thursday arrested them after several months of surveillance on their illicit operations and dealings in narcotic drugs.


A statement signed by ASP Kwesi Ofori, Public Relations Officer, Police Headquarters, on Saturday said 588 pieces of wrapped parcels suspected to be cocaine were found concealed in paper boxes in two rooms with a gross weight of 580 kilograms with a street value of 38 million dollars.

The narcotic substance has since been sent to the Forensic Laboratory for examination.