A Ghanaian national has been arrested by Philippino authorities after being caught with suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in the country’s capital, Manila.

John Nana Brown, together with two Indonesians – Fitri Wiji Utami and Radity Chusnul Fariz, were arrested in a hotel called Stonehouse and at least 25 sachets of ‘shabu’ were seized from them, the country’s ABS-CBN News reported February 27, 2013.

The drugs were said to have been concealed in rolls of lace.

Police say the three may be part of a notorious West African drug syndicate, a claim the Ghanaian denied being part of.

The suspects are now in the grips of Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation, according to the ABS-CBN News report.