From left: Kwame Dzato, Tijani Chambers, Kamara Dini and Joe Akam. Inset:The parcels of wee
FOUR PERSONS have been arrested by the police in connection with trading in Indian hemp.
The suspects were arrested on separate occasions by personnel of the National Highway Patrol Unit at the Police Headquarters.
The four suspected drug dealers, Kwame Dzato, 26, Tijani Chambers, 42, Kamara Dini, 23 and unemployed and Joe Akam, 21, also unemployed, were all arrested at Frankadua off the Accra-Ho road from where they were bringing the narcotics.
The police retrieved 109 parcels of compressed dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, popularly called wee.
While part of the stuff was hidden in the engine compartment of vehicles, others were concealed in luggage and knapsacks.
Briefing DAILY GUIDE, the Director of the National Highway Patrol Unit, Obed Dzikunu, said on Thursday, October 25, 2012, at about 4:30pm, men from the unit detailed to patrol the Accra-Ho road, stopped a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GT 3719-09, for routine checks.
During the search, the police realised that a luggage belonging to one of the passengers, Kamara Dini, contained 47 parcels of compressed dried leaves suspected to be wee.
Kamara was arrested after he claimed ownership of the bag.
Joe Akam was also arrested after he claimed ownership of a knapsack containing two parcels of compressed dried leaves.
He was travelling on a Toyota Hiace with registration number GT 5378-10 which was stopped at the same spot for a random search at about 5:10pm the same day.
On Friday, October 26, 2012, at about 5:30am, the team stopped a Benz Sprinter bus with registration number AW 851-11. During a search, the police found seven parcels of compressed dried leaves in a bag belonging to Tijani Chambers.
He was arrested after claiming ownership of the bag.
Earlier in the day, at about 4:15am, the same police team stopped a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number GN 791-11 with Kwame Dzato behind the wheels.
Dzato cunningly posted an obituary in front of the vehicle and also tied red bands conspicuously on the side mirrors as though they were on their way to a funeral.
However, a search on the bus revealed 53 parcels of compressed dried leaves suspected to be wee in the engine compartment, while some were also concealed beneath the driver?s seat and the glued compartments of the vehicle.
He was arrested, leaving his passengers stranded on the way.
All four suspects are currently in police custody helping the CID Narcotics Unit with investigation into the matter.
Supt. Dzikunu said that most criminals were usually on drugs so the arrest of the peddlers was welcome news since it would, in the long term, lead to crime reduction.
He urged the public to be tolerant of the police when they were on patrol duties.
BY Rocklyn Antonio
