| Officials of the Cape Coast Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) yesterday intercepted 380 parcels of a substance suspected to be cocaine, which were concealed in 19 travelling bags, at Ataabadze Junction, near Elmina in the Central Region. |
A Ghana News Agency report quoted the Central Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio-Atinga, as saying at a press briefing in Cape Coast that following directives from the Police Headquarters for the police to embark on aggressive vehicle checks for items such as arms and drugs, the regional MTTU began the exercise on Sunday.
She said the officials, led by the Unit Deputy Commander, ASP Fredrick Kojo Asare Mensah, were on duty at Ataabadze Junction about 8.00 a.m. when they intercepted a Toyota vehicle, with registration number GR1204 Y, and three people on board, heading towards Accra.
She said when the vehicle was searched, 19 travelling bags loaded with substances suspected to be cocaine were found concealed in the boot.
DCOP Bio-Atinga said while the search was being conducted, two of the suspects, known only as Chiko and Michael, escaped into a nearby bush, while the driver, Samuel Mills-Robinson, 49, was arrested.
She said Mills-Robinson offered the police $5,000 for his release but they refused the offer and took him to the Regional Police Headquarters.
Mills- Robinson told the police that he had been hired by some Nigerians to convey the substance from Bogoso to Accra for a fee of $40,000.
The Regional Commander Police Commander said the case was still under investigations and that everything would be done to get the other two suspects arrested. She added that the substance would be send to the police forensic laboratory for a test.
DCOP Bio-Atinga called on the public to support the police by giving them the relevant information to enable them to do their work effectively.
The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, who went to the Regional Police Headquarters when he heard of the arrest, commended the police for the good work done and said he had realised that the Cape Coast MTTU lacked a means of transportation and promised to help address the situation.
As part of a nation-wide exercise by the police to rid the country of robbers, drug dealers and other social misfits, more than 200 suspected criminals were arrested in Accra on Saturday in a swoop by the police and the military, reports Albert K. Salia.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told news men after the exercise in Accra that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P. K. Acheampong, last week issued a circular to all regional and unit commanders to embark on special exercises to flush out criminals in the country.
He said consequently, a joint police/military exercise was organised in parts of Accra, namely, Adabraka, Alajo, Avenor, the Neoplan Station, Circle, Kaneshie and La Wireless to arrest narcotic dealers and peddlers, suspected armed robbers and violent criminals.
DSP Ofori said the exercise would continue until the streets of the cities and towns were rid of all criminal gangs.
The Director-General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Patrick Timbillah, gave the assurance that the service would continue to ensure that the IGP’s directives were enforced to the letter.
He explained that the exercise was geared towards ensuring peace before, during and after the December general election.
“I want to assure the nation that we will flush them (criminals) out of their hideouts and make sure the streets and homes are safe,” he stated. |
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