Pastor nabbed over substances suspected to be Indian hemp

Aflao, Nov. 9, GNA - The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at Aflao on Friday, November 5, arrested a Nigerian pastor, Stephen Emeka Anazondo, 50, for possessing 51 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

The parcels were stashed in secret compartments of a Ford Saloon Car with registration number BU 295LSD which the pastor was driving from Accra en-route to Nigeria.

Mr Desmond Abbey, Aflao Sector Deputy Head of CEPS, told the Ghana News Agency that Anazondo, donning a white cassock, pulled up at the border around 0615 hours.

He said CEPS officials going through the normal routine checks became suspicious and put the pastor to further interrogations. Mr Abbey said Anazondo then confided in the officers that he had 21 parcels of Indian hemp, each weighing a kilogram on him. He said 30 other parcels were found in other false compartments of the vehicle bringing the total of parcels to 51.

Mr Abbey said Anazondo had since been handed over to the police for further investigations. Meanwhile, Anazondo had been arraigned at an Aflao Circuit Court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri for possessing Indian hemp and remanded in police custody. He will be sent to court again on November 18, this year. 9 Nov. 10