Three persons, including the Wulomo of the Atukpai Division of Accra, Numo Oku, have been put before the Accra circuit court for allegedly attempting to export 178 kilogrammes of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp to the United Kingdom through the Kotoka International Airport.
The substances were concealed in 10 plywood boards which had been taken to the Aviance Cargo Village by Anthony Qkine, a welder, and Numo Oku and given to Braima Salifu, a forwarding agent, for processing for export. .
However, during the scanning of the consignment, they were found to contain the compressed dried leaves.
Okine and Salifu were remanded to appear again on February 27, while a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Numo Oku, who is said to be at large.
They are facing a charge of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority but their pleas were not taken.
The facts of the case, as narrated by Superintendent J.K. Abraham, were that on February 6, this year, Okine and Numo Oku went to the cargo village to export 10 plywood boards to the UK.
They handed the consignment to Salifu to process the necessary documents to facilitate the export but during the scanning of the boards, they were found to contain some foreign materials.
Consequently, when one of the plywood was cut open by Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) operatives, it was found to contain six slabs of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.
That prompted the examination of the rest, which were also found to contain similar substances. .
Supt Abraham said Okine and Salifu were arrested but Numo Oku managed to escape.
He said the exhibits had been taken to the Ghana Standards Board for examination and analysis.
Source: MJFM
