Wee dealers grabbed at Kotoka

Two middle-aged men who allegedly attempted to export about ten cartons of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp (wee), through the cargo section of the Kotoka International Airport to the United Kingdom, have been apprehended by the Accra Regional police.

The two are Kwaku Boateng, a 47-year-old travel and tour agent and Yaw Opoku, 62, a driver.

The suspects, according to police reports, had wrapped the substance in dried plantain leaves which looked like Fante kenkey – a local diet, ready to be exported.

They are currently in police custody assisting in investigations.

Briefing the media, ACP Timothy Yoosa Bonga, Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, said the two suspected drug dealers were apprehended on October 19, 2015, at about 8pm.

He said the police had information that someone had stuffed a Hyundai mini bus with registration number GB 5409-12, with cartons of compressed dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp meant to be exported to the United Kingdom.

The Regional Police Command acted swiftly by dispatching a team of detectives to the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to lay surveillance and arrest the suspects.

At about 10:30 pm, the police team spotted the Hyundai mini bus driven by Yaw Opoku and heading towards the Aviance Cargo section of the airport.

The team intercepted the vehicle and when a search was conducted, the police retrieved 10 cartons of compressed dry leaves neatly packaged and concealed in dried plantain leaves wrapped in transparent rubber bags.

Upon interrogation, Yaw Opoku mentioned Kwaku Boateng as the owner of the consignment, adding that he was hired by him (Boateng) to convey the consignment to the cargo section of the airport to be exported to the United Kingdom.

Police investigation further led to the arrest of Kwaku Boateng at Sonnidom filling station in Achimota, a suburb of Accra.

Upon interrogation, Kwaku Boateng also mentioned the name of one Frank Akowah as the owner of the consignment and that he (Boateng) was just exporting it for him.

ACP Yoosa Bonga continued that efforts were being made to apprehend the said Frank Akowah to assist in investigations.