7 nabbed for drug trafficking

Page 43: April 10, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
SEVEN people have been arrested for allegedly dealing in drugs.
The seven, who were arrested between March 24 and April 6, 2008, are all in custody pending further investigations.
The suspects are Stephen Kwaku Arhin, Doe Amedonu, Michael Ntiamoah, Eric Afriyie Acheampong, Suhnunu Abdul Razak, Awal Mohammed and Humphrey Mwafor.
Briefing the press in Accra yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Mr Francis Amoah, said Arhin was arrested with five parcels of cocaine at the Aflao Border by officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) while he was on his way from Lome to Ghana.
He said CEPS officials at the Dabala Checkpoint also arrested Amedonu on March 31, 2008 with seven big parcels and two small ones of Indian hemp.
He said the suspect said he had bought the Indian hemp at Nkonya in the Volta Region and was sending it to Accra.
According to him, Ntiamoah was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) at 8:30 p.m. on April 2, 2008.
He said the suspect had swallowed 68 pellets of cocaine and was on his way to Milan, Italy, through Dubai.
Mr Amoah said Ntiamoah also had in his possession a return ticket from Milan to Amsterdam.
He explained that drug couriers now redirected their routes through business centres to avoid suspicion.
He said Ntiamoah had told investigators that he had bought the 68 pellets for $18,000. He had since expelled all of them.
With regard to Acheampong, the PRO said he was arrested at 7:30 p.m. on April 4, 2008 while he was going through departure formalities on his way to Milan, Italy.
He said Acheampong had concealed 66 pellets of cocaine in his bag when he was arrested and mentioned Razak and Mohammed as the persons who gave the drugs to him.
He said NACOB officials later arrested the two at Accra New Town to assist in investigations.
Mr Amoah said Mwafor was arrested at the airport on April 6, 2008 while he was going through departure formalities for Spain.
He said the suspect had swallowed 102 pellets, 70 of which he had since expelled after his arrest.
He said increased collaboration between NACOB and other security agencies had resulted in the recent arrests.