By: Samuel Asamoah

The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested four suspects in two separate anti-narcotics operations, including the seizure of 866 parcels of a white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine with an estimated street value of US$6.928 million, as part of intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking in Ghana.

According to the Police, the first operation was carried out on Wednesday, August 5, following intelligence that a group of men were loading parcels of a white substance concealed in sacks of gari into a 40-foot shipping container at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave for export.

A police team moved to the warehouse and arrested three suspects identified as Gilano Horwin, a 31-year-old Dutch national, John Mensah Sabah, 41, and Alhaji Iddris Haruna, 52, who were allegedly supervising the loading operation. Officers also impounded the white DAF truck with registration number WR 1118-10 used in transporting the consignment.

A subsequent search of the sacks uncovered 866 parcels of the suspected cocaine. Police said preliminary investigations indicate the drugs have an estimated street value of US$6,928,000. During interrogation, Gilano Horwin allegedly admitted that the substance was cocaine and claimed ownership of it. The three suspects remain in police custody while the exhibits have been secured for forensic examination and further investigations.

In a separate operation on the same day, officers at Tsopoli intercepted an Opel taxi cab suspected of transporting Indian hemp after receiving information that the vehicle was being pursued. The pursuit involved officers from the Akuse Police with assistance from commercial motorcycle riders before officers at Tsopoli joined the operation.

Police said the taxi cab and a Hyundai H100 bus were both allegedly carrying sacks containing suspected Indian hemp. While the H100 bus escaped, the taxi was intercepted on the Agotor–Kpatsredor Road, leading to the arrest of its driver, Eric Tetteh. A search of the vehicle uncovered four sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspect allegedly admitted transporting the consignment from a village near Akuse.

The Tema Regional Police Command said efforts are underway to trace the escaped Hyundai H100 bus, arrest its occupants and recover a fifth sack believed to have been taken away during the chase.

The Command said the two operations demonstrate its commitment to disrupting the trafficking, transportation and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with the public. It appealed to members of the public to volunteer credible information that could lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects, adding that investigations into both cases are ongoing.