Ghanaian arrested at airport with narcotic drugs

A 26-year-old Ghanaian resident in Italy, Mr Akwasi Pepra was on Tuesday night arrested by officers of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for possessing substance suspected to be narcotic drugs.

The suspect, who was travelling back to Italy after a two-month holiday, was arrested at the last checkpoint.

Mr Baffour Dwomoh-Jermih, officer in charge of CEPS at KIA, said upon a tip-off, surveillance was mounted at both the departure hall and the last checkpoint.

When he was initially interrogated and searched, nothing was found on him. He was therefore taken to the hospital to find out whether he had narcotic drugs concealed in his stomach.

Mr Dwomoh-Jermih said while being escorted to the hospital the suspect took to his heels just before he was to be put in a vehicle.

He was however arrested after a 30-minute chase by his escort who braved a downpour that night.

Mr Dwomoh-Jermih said the suspect confessed that he had swallowed narcotic drugs in 32 wrappers.

An X'ray photograph taken at the 37 military hospital revealed 24 oval wrappers. He has been taken back to the hospital to have the drugs expelled from his stomach.