Three in court for dealing in narcotics

Two farmers, including a 35 year-old woman were on Tuesday arraigned before a circuit court at Fiapre, near Sunyani, for possessing and smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The plea of the suspects, John Gbefeanu, 29 and Salamatu Mohammed, 35, on possession and use of narcotic drug was not taken and will appear before the court again on August 30, 2011.

Police Superintendent Fredrick K. Adjei, prosecutor, told the court presided over by Mr Benjamin Yaw Osei that, the complainant in the case was the police from the Brong Ahafo regional police headquarters.

He said the two farmers, Gbefeanu and Salamatu, were residents of Tepa and Sunyani respectively.

He said on August 13 this year, the police, led by the regional police commander embarked on a special exercise in Sunyani to clamp down on narcotic dealers and smokers in the region.

The prosecutor said during the exercise, the police went to a popular place called “Down Base” and met a group of people selling and smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

On seeing the police the group took to their heels but the police managed to arrest Gbefeanu and Salamatu, who were seen smoking the narcotic drug.

He said the police seized 33 compressed parcels and two mini bags of the dried leaves.

Supt. Adjei said a white substance suspected to be cocaine was also found on Salamatu during a search on her.

He said the two suspects were arrested together with the items found and charged with the offence after investigations.

Source: GNA