Ghanaian Times

The Ghanaian Times in a front page story reports that a total of 3,508,972 kilogrammes of hard drugs were seized from drug traffickers by the security agencies between January and September, 1998. They were made up of 546 grammes of cocaine, 17,656 kilogrammes heroin and 3,490.660 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The Times says statistics released by the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) showed that 66 people were arrested within the period, while 37 people were found with cannabis, seven for cocaine and 22 for heroin. The suspects were arrested when they sought to bring the drugs into the country or send them outside. According to the statistics, there was an increase of over 600 per cent in cannabis and heroin as against 1,648 kilogrammes in 1997, and 1,604 grammes in heroin within the period. The Times quoting statistics, says between January and September, 1997, 196 suspects were arrested, which showed that there was a decrease in people arrested but an increase in the quantity of drugs seized. Cocaine increased by 652 grammes, heroin by 17.50 kilogrammes, 3,325.9 kilogrammes in cannabis.