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Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Source: GNA

Police destroys 564,000 grams of Indian hemp

Koforidua, June 9, GNA - The Eastern Regional Police Command has destroyed 46 bags of Indian hemp (wee) weighing about 564,000 grams seize d from Huhunya in the Yilo Krobo District. The action followed a directive by a Koforidua Circuit Court. The bags of wee served as exhibit in the prosecution of two suspect s whose dockets were closed on an advice from the Attorney General's Department. According to Chief Inspector Nketia Yeboah, Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, 25 bags of the consignment were seized in 2008 after a swoop and 23 suspects including Kwaku Paddy and Philip Teye were arrested in connection with the Indian hemp.

He said after screening, 21 of the suspects were exonerated and therefore released whilst Paddy and Teye were arraigned before the court for cultivation and possessing of narcotic drugs. The seized bags of Indian hemp to which the two suspects were arraig ned were 25. The additional 21 bags were seized by the police last year but n o suspect was apprehended. The police, however, decided to destroy both quantities to free the exhibit room. Chief Inspector Yeboah said Paddy died whilst on remand and a post mortem report indicated that he died of Tuberculosis. Later the Attorney General advised that the charges of Philip, the only suspect left, should be dropped. The destruction of the narcotic drugs at Krobo Nkwanta near Koforidu a was witnessed by personnel of the Police Professional and Intelligence Bureau and officials of the circuit court including its Registrar.