Ghanaian Times 24 ? 06 99

42 deported for drug offenses

The paper carries on its front page, a story titled "42 deported for drug offenses". According to the story, a total of 42 Ghanaians between he ages of 21 and 51 were deported from Europe and the Americas from 1997 to June 1999 for various drug related cases.

The paper said culprits were arrested and convicted for possessing heroin, cocaine and cannabis. Majority of them were deported from the U.S.A., Brazil, Italy, France, Holland and Las Palmas, with most of them coming from the Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra Regions.

The paper said a total of 112 people including two women have been convicted of drug-related cases between April last year to April this year in the country.

The paper said the highest number people caught indulging in drugs came from Nsawam where 37 men and 1 woman were arrested. Kumasi followed with 34 males and 1 female. Anomabu, 17 males, Tamale, 13 males, Akuse 6 males, Wa 4 males and Tarkwa 1 male respectively.

According to the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) 28 drug peddlers were arrested in Accra and Kumasi, with 18 of them being picked from Kumasi whilst the remaining 10 were arrested in Accra.

GRi?/