|
Cocaine In Floating Container? IT'S A HOAX! |
 | Speculations that a container filled with either cocaine or toxic waste had been washed ashore on Monday at Abeliakorpe, near Aflao, turned out to be a hoax. |
The floating object was said to be a "buoy" and when it was blasted open it contained only some foamy substance. A buoy is used for holding ships on berthing.
Measuring about five feet long with a hole at both ends and tied to a rope, the object was spotted floating by some fishermen on the high seas and brought ashore.
Curious residents of Aflao and surrounding communities, as well as travellers who had arrived from the eastern corridor, diverted their route to the village to catch a glimpse of the strange object.
A team of experts from the Explosive Ordinance Depot of the Ghana Armed Forces used an explosive to blast the buoy to ascertain the truth or otherwise that it contained cocaine.
Personnel of the Forensic Unit of the Ghana Police Service who accompanied the explosives team took samples of the substance in the buoy after the blast for testing.
Earlier, attempts by the Ghana National Fire Service to use a chainsaw to split the buoy proved futile as the metallic component was solid.
The police and other security agencies had to cordon off the area before the blast to avoid casualties.
Briefing the media after the four-hour exercise, Captain G.D.K. Asare of the Explosive Ordinance Depot, who led the team of experts, said the contents of the buoy are unknown and need to be assessed by the police Forensic Unit, Ghana Standards Board and other agencies.
Naval captain Francis Eshun, a member of the team explained that the corrosive nature of the contents of the buoy might have caused the tearing of the rope attached to it which made it float to its present location.
Superintendent Issah Yakubu, Ketu District Police Commander, said the police will keep surveillance over the buoy until further instructions.
|
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
