Customes burst four kilos cocaine at AFGO

The staff of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at AFGO on Friday intercepted four kilograms of cocaine concealed underneath four black enamel saucepans that arrived from Bangkok, Thailand.

The cocaine, contained in white polythene bags with red and white inscriptions, was concealed under the saucepans labelled ''Cook 'N' Look''.

The drug was covered with aluminium sheets cut to size and held in place with fillers and glue and painted black.

Ms Aku Brown, CEPS Chief Collector at AFGO, told journalists that the saucepans, sent among other items by one Paa Quesi Essien, a Ghanaian resident in Japan, arrived via Egypt Air on August 20 and cleared.

She said documents showed the items were originally shipped from Japan then to Thailand where they were put on Egypt Air for Ghana.

"We suspected something fishy because it came from Thailand."

Ms Brown said on the date of arrival one Charles Yaw Akom, claiming to be a co-tenant of the sender, reported at AFGO to collect the items but was asked to come on August 24 since the items were under investigation.

"After careful scrutiny we realised the saucepans, covered with glass lids, were too heavy and the bottom looked different from the inner layer," she said.

"We therefore chiselled off the bottom layer and discovered that cocaine was concealed underneath."

Akom, 44, resident at Ashaiman, was arrested when he reported to collect the items.

Akom later told journalists that Paa Quesi Essien was his co-tenant for 10 years before he left for Japan.

He said Essien sent the items, which included wax prints, microwave oven, rice cooker, blender and other items, to be used for his daughter's engagement.

Akom said Essien's daughter was on admission at the hospital so she could not collect the items herself. Essien, therefore, asked him to do so on her behalf and that, he, Essien would arrive in the country soon for the engagement.

Akom is assisting CEPS in investigations.