Five suspects, including a woman, were arrested for allegedly dealing in narcotics and 287 wrapped substances believed to be Indian hemp (wee).

At a media briefing at Techiman on security issues at Bono East, Regional Police Commander, DCOP Moses Asabagna Atibillaon, revealed that intelligence gathered led to the arrest of the five at Dawadawa No.2.

He added that the dry substances and plants were stuffed in sacks as well as 71 pieces of wraps they sell to the public.

In another raid at Atakora, one Desmonf was arrested with dried and fresh plant materials and alcoholic drinks brewed with cannabis.

DCOP Atibillaon further announced that the Police have also arrested another gang at Techiman who are allegedly dealing in illegal ammunitions in the region and over 120 ammunitions were retrieved from them.

He disclosed that the police were aided by close persons who framed the suspects to a point where they were to be caught.

They, however, suspected foul play and took to their heels before the police could arrest them. They, however, abandoned their bag which contained the exhibits.

A search in the bag uncovered 76 pieces of 9mm live-size ammunitions and 50 pieces of small ones, as well as 21 BB cartridges.

DCOP Atibillaon urged the public to provide the Police with relevant information that can help combat crime and protect lives as well as property.

Laptops and assorted mobile phones which were being conveyed in a vehicle suspected to be stolen were also retrieved.

The three suspects — Nervis Otu Laryea, 33; Ebenezer Osei, 38, and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, 37 — were taken into custody shortly after they were arrested on July 6, 2021, following a routine check by the patrol team stationed along the Kpando-Have motor road.

All 27 assorted mobile phones were marked with price tags, while black and green hoody pullovers were also retrieved from the bags of the suspects.

The suspects were not only found to be in possession of the stolen items but were found in possession of the Toyota Corolla suspected to be stolen.

Various Reason

The Volta Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Edward Oduro Kwarteng, in a media briefing last Wednesday, said further investigations revealed that the vehicle with registration number AC 1621-18 was acquired by Nervis Otu Laryea at Afienya from an unnamed individual from Togo but without documents.

Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, during preliminary investigations, also told the police that he obtained the assorted mobile phones without receipts at Alavanyo Wudidi from a man who he could not name.

Ebenezer Osei, meanwhile, claimed to have visited a shrine at Alavanyo with Laryea for spiritual assistance in his business, and the two offered Mubarak a lift on their way back.

ALSO READ:

• Social media users roast Odartey Lamptey’s ex-wife after court ruling

• Bank’s Chief Security Officer jailed over stolen laptops

Search

DCOP Oduro Kwarteng said it took a careful and painstaking search for the three foreign pistols craftily hidden in the crevices of a false compartment in the car to be retrieved along with 40 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition.

The suspects, who were subsequently slapped with weapons-related charges, remain in police custody after they were remanded by the Ho District Magistrate Court 1, presided over by Robert Addo, on July 9, 2021.

They are to reappear on July 22, 2021.

The ammunitions were concealed in the consignment of personal effects.

They belong to one Felix Wallace, who has been arrested by the marine police.

He had come to clear his 1X20 footer container of household goods and personal effects but upon a physical examination of the consignment, a pistol was found hidden in a box.

The matter attracted personnel from Bureau of National Investigations and National Security, who have taken the matter up for investigations.

But this has not gone down well with the major opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, which has called for transparency in the matter.

It’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, alleges that some ‘big men’ are lobbying to get the consignment released.

“While we commend the Customs Excise and Preventive Service unit at Tema Port for acting swiftly to impound this consignment, we demand that they update the nation on this worrying development in the spirit of transparency,” he said in a release on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

ALSO READ:

• My family was held hostage in our home for 3 hours…

• GNA loses first General Manager

“Ghanaians deserve to know who illegally imported the said pistols and ammunition into the country and for what purpose.

“More importantly, Ghanaians deserve to know the identity of the so-called ‘Big Men’ who are pulling strings behind the scenes to get the consignment released.”