However, the Dzodze Police in the Ketu-North District of the Volta Region have detected the strategy and intercepted huge quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp (wee), from one Ome Joe, a 46-year-old Nigerian.
The leaves, which were intercepted yesterday from a Ho-Aflao bound Metro Mass Transit bus with registration number AS-6067-10, were stuffed in a suitcase, three baskets and 48 parcels at Ave-Hevi near Dzodze on Wednesday morning around 7:45 am.
Narrating the incident to Daily Guide, the Dzodze District Police Commander, Akwasi Asafo-Adjei, indicated that on that fateful morning, his men at the Ave-Hevi border post were undertaking routine checks of all vehicles as he had directed them to.
On reaching the Metro Mass Transit bus, the driver and passengers of the bus were surprised because those buses were hardly searched. After a thorough search, the policemen discovered huge quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp which had been expertly packaged in the suitcase, baskets and a sack in the side booth of the bus.
DSP Asafo-Adjei said when the passengers were asked who owned the luggage, no one owned up. However, Ome Joe was seen running into a nearby bush. He was then pursued and arrested by the police.
The investigator on the case, Sergeant Peter Amponsah, told Daily Guide that Ome claimed he was a porter at the Aflao border and was contracted by one Achianye to assist him cart the goods from Ho to Aflao. According to Ome, Achianye was also on the bus but sought permission to attend to nature’s call during the search but never returned.
According to the investigator, Ome has denied knowledge of the whereabouts of Achianye and refused to tell where they got the drugs or its destination. The drug is however suspected to be transported to Togo then later to its final destination, possibly Nigeria.
He said the exhibit would be sent to the forensic laboratory at the Police Headquarters for examination. The bus has also been released and the statements of the driver and the conductor have been taken. Ome will be arraigned before the Aflao Circuit Court today.
Meanwhile, the Dzodze Police Commander has disclosed that the youth in the area have taken to wee smoking, and has therefore cautioned them against the act and warned that anyone caught would not be spared. He also cautioned Indian hemp smugglers that the police were ever ready to deal with them.
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