NACOB grabs $20m 'wee'

Kofi Appianin Ennin, 46, a businessman, has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) for allegedly exporting 6,240kgs of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug, with street value of $20m, to the United Kingdom (UK).

The arrest was effected through a collaboration between the security agencies in the United Kingdom and NACOB.

This is the largest narcotic drug consignment from Ghana to the UK that has been intercepted this year.

A source close to NACOB, who disclosed this to DAILY GUIDE,said Ennin, between the months of February 2014 and January 2015, exported 6,240kgs of the drug in two 40-footer containers.

He said the containers were intercepted in the UK when they had successfully left the shores of Ghana to that country.

According to the source, NACOB in 2014 received intelligence report from the UK indicating that a container numbered MSCU 0186777 had been intercepted.

The NACOB source revealed that the said container was supposed to contain 112 sacks of gari but was stuffed with compressed cannabis sativa (wee) weighing 6,240kgs.

According to the source, the recipient of the said container mentioned Kofi Appianin Ennin as the one who exported the said cargo.

The source disclosed that between January 15 and February 10, 2015, whilst investigations were underway, another 40-footer container, numbered MORU: 1114371, was intercepted at London Gatwick.

He said a search in the said container revealed 1,000 cartons of yam, 53 bags of gari and a total of 3,000kgs of compressed substance suspected to be wee concealed in the boxes of yam.

The source stated that documents covering the shipment were received from their counterparts in the UK and the freight forwarder in Ghana was contacted and he mentioned Ennin as the one who assigned him to do the exportation on his behalf.

The source said the freight forwarder led a team of security personnel and NACOB officials to the warehouse of the suspect at Asheyei, along the Accra-Dodowa road and also mounted surveillance at Ennin’s house.

The source disclosed that after luring Ennin out of his hideout, he was arrested and when his warehouse was searched, it revealed a number of cardboards with the label, “Fresh Yam Products of Ghana”, jute sacks and plain polythene material which were used in packaging the compressed cannabis in the yams.

Upon interrogation, Ennin was said to have mentioned one Jay as the owner of the substance.

Ennin will be arraigned before the Criminal Division of the Accra Fast Track High Court today.