Police seizes assets of a drug dealer

The Police Narcotics Unit yesterday took a giant step in the fight against drug trafficking when it filed notices of seizure on the properties of George Bonsu, alias Benjillo. The team which was led by DSP Stephen Anyan, acting head of the unit, arrived at the Benjillo Fabrics Annex situated in the Glamour Block near Swanmill in the central Business District of Accra at exactly 3,45p.m when the shop stewards had just finished unlaoding some goods into the shop. Another shop of his at Zongo lane, was also closed. The Police replaced all the locks to the shops and collected the old locks and their respective keys. George Bonsu was on 10 the April, the is year sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for his involvement in the importation of 417 grammes of heroin into the country. The country's drug laws provide among others that once there is a proof that a narcotic drug offence has been committed, any equipment or property used for the commission of the offence shall be forfeited.

The law also provides that "where a police officer of or above the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police reasonably suspects that any immovable property is the subject matter of an offence or is illegal property, that property could be seized. It says also that where practicable, a copy of the notice of seizure should be posted in a conspicuous position on the immovable property.

The seizure notices signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigations, Mr. Faustinus Adotey Gemegah, said he is acting on powers conferred on him by the law. The shop stewards were taken aback when they were asked to close the shop earlier than the normal closing time of 5pm. DSP Anyan, told the Graphic that the police would mount a 24-hour guard over the two stores until the case is disposed of. He explained that this is necessary in view of the fact that there are items in the shop which could be tampered with. The Attorney-General is expected to file an exparte motion in court for it to order Benjillo to show cause why the property should not be confiscated to the state.

The regional tribunal that tried George Bonsu and four others found them guilty of possessing and importing the drugs as well as abetment of crime. Two Nigerians, Sylvester Chuku Osunoh and Alexander Osunoh, who unlawfully imported the drug into the country as well as their Ghanaian accomplices, Henry Akoto and Gordon Amartey, both employees of the Ghana Postal Services and Ghana Telecom, received 10 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the drug deal.

The Nigerians were sentenced in absentia. Graphic