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Tag: drugs

  • Three arrested in suspected drug trafficking operation

    Three arrested in suspected drug trafficking operation

    Three suspects are in police custody for their alleged involvement in a narcotics operation in the Accra metropolis. The trio, Bright Ayivor, Ifeanyi Ijeoba, and Kwabena Botwe, were apprehended between April 10 and April 11, during a series of coordinated operations by the police.

    In a related development, the Oti Regional Police Command at Dambai, Oti Region intercepted a DAF long trailer with registration number GW 1943-09, carrying 4,000 parcels of suspected narcotics in February.

    The police, in a press release, disclosed that the interception was made possible following intelligence gathered by their officers.


    According to the statement, thousands of compressed dried leaf parcels, wrapped in yellow masking tape and hidden in secret compartments sealed with six metal plates, were discovered by the officers.


    “The concealed compartments beneath the trailer were opened in the presence of suspect Amidu Jubril, aged 40. A search in the secret compartments led to the discovery of Four Thousand (4000) parcels of compressed dried leaf substances wrapped in a yellow masking tape suspected to be narcotics, carefully concealed within the compartments,” the statement said.


    Meanwhile, driver, Amidu Jubril, is in police custody. Last month, a 50-year-old commercial driver, Atampugri Akanyani, was nabbed by the police after 714 slabs of suspected Indian hemp were found in his possession.


    The slabs, which were hidden in nine nylon sacks were discovered during a routine snap check by police officers at the Asanso checkpoint along the Bekwai–Aputogya road on Tuesday, January 26, 2026.


    Atampugri Akanyani disclosed that an unknown individual at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal in Kumasi handed over the suspected Indian hemp to him for delivery, at a fee of six hundred Ghana cedis, to another unidentified person in Obuasi.


    Meanwhile, Atampugri Akanyani has since been arraigned before the court. Last year, 600 sacks of Indian hemp fertiliser, weighing a total of 47,530kg and valued at about GH¢4.2 billion, were destroyed by the Volta Regional Police Command.


    The destruction exercise, which occurred on Monday, November 17, was carried out pursuant to an order from the Ho Circuit Court. This information was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, November 20, and signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaru Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Region.


    Parts of the statement read, “the six hundred sacks contained a total of forty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty kilograms (47,530kg) with an estimated face value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis.”


    In August 2025, the Central East Regional Police Command arrested two suspects in possession of 519 compressed parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp.


    The suspects, identified as Eric Nkyeke, 30, and Francis Klu, 28, were held in police custody. The Toyota Hilux pick-up with registration number GS 6849-21 was impounded at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District.


    This was revealed in a statement issued by the Nyanyano District police command. In June, the police nabbed two suspects for having in their possession 84 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.


    The police team, through an intelligence-led operation on June 15, intercepted an Opel Astra vehicle with registration number GT 6430-13 driven by suspect John Dzeble, together with suspect Adzobi Mesiwotso on board.


    A search conducted on the vehicle revealed 86 compressed parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, discreetly concealed in the inner compartments of the car, including the engine, doors, and boot.


    In addition to the compressed parcels, the officers retrieved a portable measuring scale machine and a roll of masking tape, also concealed, believed to have been used in the packaging of the substances.

    The suspects, along with the exhibits, are currently in Police custody and assisting with the investigation.


    The Oti Regional Police Command has commended the swift and professional action of the personnel involved in the arrest and reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug trafficking and related criminal activities.


    The arrest comes after a recent incident where the police captured one Christopher Partey for unlawful possession of 40 parcels of a substance suspected to be narcotic drugs.


    The National Highway Patrol Unit of the Ghana Police Service arrested on Wednesday, June 11.


    The team intercepted a Ford Transit bus with registration number AS 524-16 near the outskirts of Ayikuma township while on routine patrol along the Accra–Somanya corridor.


    A search of the vehicle revealed 40 tightly wrapped parcels concealed in a fertilizer sack in the vehicle’s boot. Upon interrogation, Christopher Partey, a passenger on board, admitted ownership of the items.


    The exhibits retrieved have been handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters for further investigation.

    The suspect is currently in police custody, assisting investigations, and will be put before the court. In April, a total of 189 Cadets were officially inducted into service to support Ghana’s ongoing efforts to combat narcotic drug trafficking and related crimes.


    The induction, held at the Eastern Naval Command, marked a significant collaboration between the Leadership Training School (LTS) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).


    The event, which featured the ceremonial swearing of an oath of allegiance, signified the commitment of the recruits to serve the nation with dedication and uphold the values of integrity and national security.


    The training, led by the Commanding Officer of LTS, is designed to build the capacity of cadets by focusing on the fundamentals of narcotics law and enforcement.

    The course places particular emphasis on confidence-building, professional discipline, and a thorough understanding of legal procedures necessary for their roles in narcotics control.


    As part of the induction, NACOC leadership underscored the importance of adherence to institutional rules and the responsible handling of classified information.


    The Commission reiterated its mission to disrupt the narcotics trade and act as a stabilizing force in communities vulnerable to the influence of drug-related activities.


    NACOC reaffirmed its commitment to making Ghana an unattractive hub for drug trafficking, prioritizing public safety and the protection of the nation’s borders.


    Calls have also been made for increased government support to enhance the Commission’s operational capacity, including the recruitment of additional personnel and the provision of improved financial and logistical resources.


    The new cadets are expected to play a key role in reinforcing the Commission’s enforcement operations across the country.

  • Regina Daniels’ family, friends frustrated efforts for her recovery from drug addiction – Ned Nwoko

    Regina Daniels’ family, friends frustrated efforts for her recovery from drug addiction – Ned Nwoko

    Nigerian politician and Senator, Ned Nwoko, has shared his side of the story regarding the impasse between him and his wife, Regina Daniels.

    Regina had earlier claimed that her husband had caused the arrest of her brother so that she could return home to him, a move she is hesitant about due to alleged abuse and assault.

    Refuting the claim, Ned Nwoko took to X to explain how his brother (Sammy)joined friends to introduce Regina, his wife, to hard drugs and interrupted every plan for her to receive help from rehab.

    He added that Sammy repeatedly harasses his children and domestic staff in his house during his absence.

    “This is someone I sponsored through his last two years at the University of Ekpoma. I bought his musical instruments, rented and furnished a flat for him in Abuja, in addition to the house I bought for Regina in Asaba before our marriage for the use of all of them. I also routinely provided allowances to all members of the family, including her mother, Rita Daniel. Indeed, in the last two years, I have a record of transferring ₦125 million to her alone.”

    “When Regina started her rehabilitation, there was a clear instruction by the doctors to strictly restrict people, especially her enablers, from having access to her. The therapy was arranged after I noticed troubling changes in her behavior linked to her dependence on certain illegal substances, including going for 48 hours without sleeping and eating every two hours.”

    “Unfortunately, Sammy, Destiny, some of their siblings, together with a few of their friends, notably Sonia Uche Montana among others, constantly defied those instructions. They would come into the house uninvited, sometimes forcing their way in, and would bring her the same drugs she was being treated for. Instead of helping her recover, they encouraged her addiction and completely frustrated the efforts of the doctors and therapists working with her.”

    “It is important to note that Lawrence, Sammy, his girlfriend NK, Destiny, Sonia, and others also took the same drugs as Regina. In fact, Lawrence and Sammy were the ones who first introduced and supplied these drugs to her. They were deeply involved in the habit themselves, and rather than helping her get better, they kept drawing her back into the same destructive lifestyle. I do not drink alcohol nor smoke. In fact, I am a vegetarian. So I found these characters and behaviors reprehensible and totally unacceptable.”

    Meanwhile, the actress has asked netizens to put an end to hurling insults at her mother over her estranged marriage to Nigerian senator Ned Nwoko.

    “Stop insulting my mother. She’s the best woman on earth. She warned me. My brothers warned me. Everybody warned me. Nobody’s going to cry on this camera. Everybody warned me, and then I drove out at night. I was going to kill myself if I didn’t marry Ned,” she said in a video posted on her Instagram page on November 5, 2025.

    Contrary to claims that her parent endorsed her marriage to Ned for money, Regina says she was genuinely in love despite opposition from her entire family.

    She recounted an instance where she drove out of home at night to kill herself over her family’s resistance towards her choice of man.

    “I went to the police station and said, ‘Arrest me. My family does not want me to marry the love of my life.’ But I actually did fall in love. It’s crazy, but I did. And I still care and respect him. That’s love. What is love? Care and respect,” she stated.

    Earlier this year, Regina Daniels returned to Instagram after a brief disappearance, but one striking detail has caught fans’ attention—her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, is missing from her page.

    The Nollywood actress, who had deactivated her account weeks ago, reappeared with a video post captioned, “Even for convoy I Dey with my Google Map 📌#young&accomplished!” However, what stood out was a noticeable change in her profile.

    Her name, previously displayed as Regina Daniels Nwoko, now reads Regina Daniels Nneamaka Favour. In addition, all posts featuring Senator Nwoko have vanished from her account.

    Her social media break coincided with swirling rumors that the senator had welcomed a child with actress Chika Ike—claims he later denied.

    Though Regina has not addressed the changes, her updated profile and missing posts have sparked widespread speculation, with fans flooding her comment section, eager to know the status of her marriage.

    Regina Daniels revealed that her mother and entire family were against her marriage to Ned Nwoko, the Senator from Delta North.

    Disclosing this during a live on Instagram, the actress said: “I went to visit my boyfriend, and I was so angry about why we had to go sightseeing, but when we got there, I met a cute man.

    “The moral of the story is that your boyfriend should not stop you from seeing your husband.

    “When I started with my husband, I forgot I was to have boyfriends; of course, I had like 20. When people think I don’t have a choice, I’m like, what?

    “People were saying Mummy forced me, not knowing that she was against the marriage; my full family said no.”

    Nwoko tied the knot with Regina Daniels in May 2019 in the Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, despite their significant age difference.

    The 63-year-old politician expressed that he chose to marry the 23-year-old actress because she hails from his community.

    “For her particularly, I married her because she is from my place. I wanted to marry a wife from my place and was looking for the right person. By the time I met her, I knew she must be the one,” Nwoko had said.

    Nigerian actress Regina Daniels has expressed her deep joy and pride in being a mother of two, describing it as her greatest honor.

    Sharing a touching photo with her children on Instagram on March 31, 2025, Daniels highlighted her commitment to protecting them and doing everything in her power to ensure their happiness and safety.

    “My greatest honour in life is being a mother to these two adorable angels, and everything I will ever do will be for them,” she shared in the post, radiating love and warmth as she celebrated her role as a mother.

    In her message, Daniels emphasized the significance of motherhood in her life, revealing how her children have transformed her world in ways words can hardly capture.

    Beyond the personal celebration, Daniels also surprised her fans with a generous giveaway, pledging ₦50,000 each to 10 lucky followers to do something special for their own families. She encouraged her followers to share what makes their mothers special, adding an extra layer of joy to the celebration.

    “My children are my everything, and I would do anything for them. It is an honor beyond measure,” she said, clearly overjoyed by the blessing of motherhood.

  • Drug claims by Ntim Fordjour must be probed, not dismissed – Kofi Bentil

    Drug claims by Ntim Fordjour must be probed, not dismissed – Kofi Bentil

    Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has urged caution in quickly brushing aside concerns raised about possible drug trafficking involving two aircraft that recently landed in Ghana.

    His remarks come in the wake of the Minority in Parliament demanding transparency from National Security regarding two aircraft — an air ambulance and a private jet — that touched down in Ghana in early March and later departed for Gran Canaria on March 25.

    The Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, had questioned the nature and cargo of the two flights. He expressed suspicion of possible drug trafficking or money laundering activities and called on authorities to disclose the contents of the aircraft.

    In response, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, dismissed the accusations as entirely unfounded. He accused Rev. Fordjour of engaging in deliberate misinformation aimed at tarnishing the image of the government, stating that both aircraft had legitimate reasons for being in Ghana, were subjected to complete security checks, and that no illegal cargo was found aboard.

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, March 5, Mr. Bentil stressed that although the government’s response may seem convincing at face value, it would be unwise to disregard the matter without thorough scrutiny.

    He pointed out that “government explanations are not always the full story,” emphasizing the need for independent verification to maintain public trust.

    Mr. Bentil further noted that safeguarding the country’s reputation in international circles requires a higher standard of accountability and transparency, especially regarding issues as sensitive as drug trafficking and money laundering.

  • 85 arrested for prostitution, selling of illegal drugs in Tamale

    85 arrested for prostitution, selling of illegal drugs in Tamale

    A night-time operation by the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Northern Police Command resulted in the arrest of 85 individuals involved in drug trafficking and prostitution in Tamale’s central business district.

    The suspects were caught using the taxi rank as a base for selling and distributing illegal drugs, targeting local youth.

    Their activities also included gambling and dealing in stolen phones.

    Police detained several teenagers engaged in prostitution and sexual activities under the Tamale overpass.

    Those arrested face charges related to drug offenses and possession, and were found with stolen phones and gambling tools.

    The lucrative nature of the illicit activities has led some unemployed young people to turn to sex work for financial support. Some suspects were apprehended for engaging in public sex on motorcycles and unregistered cars.

    During the raid, over 50 suspicious young men and 25 prostitutes were screened, and several Nigerian nationals were also arrested.

    The authorities seized vehicles, motorbikes, and mobile phones from the suspects. The police are continuing their investigation and working to ensure accountability for those involved in these illegal activities.

  • Mosquito nets are the only items awaiting clearance at Tema Port – Health Ministry

    Mosquito nets are the only items awaiting clearance at Tema Port – Health Ministry

    The Ministry of Health has refuted claims that the locked containers from the Global Fund at the Tema port contain essential drugs for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS treatment.

    This denial comes in response to concerns raised by health-focused civil society organizations (CSOs), who warned of potential repercussions from the Global Fund if the containers are not promptly cleared.

    The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Isaac Offei Baah, clarified that the containers primarily hold mosquito nets, not medications for TB or HIV/AIDS, despite assertions by CSOs that the drugs are deteriorating at the ports.

    He reiterated the Ministry’s stance amidst the ongoing controversy.

    “I want to put it on record that we have mosquito nets, and we don’t have anything like HIV drugs or TB drugs [locked up at the port].”

    “Once it is something that has been given to the people of Ghana, we are working towards getting them out and putting them to good use.”

    “So for clarity sake, we don’t have any HIV drugs locked up at the port that we have not cleared. All those ones were cleared somewhere last April,” he said.

  • Gov’t holds handing-over ceremony as GRA finally clears 14 containers carrying medications at Tema Port after 7 months

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has eventually cleared some 14 out of 182 containers at the Tema Port, holding antiretrovirals, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria medicines that were donated by the Global Fund.

    The Government of Ghana received 435 containers at the Tema Port between August 2023 and February 2024 containing anti-HIV, TB and malaria medicines and mosquito nets for distribution across the country.

    The clearance comes after intense pressure was mounted on the Ministry of Health by stakeholders in the health sector and members of the general public over the delay in the release of the drugs.

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) assured its stakeholders and the public that significant progress has been made in clearing the remaining containers holding antiretrovirals, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria medicines by Friday, 12th April 2024.

    The Health Ministry pledged that some 20 containers would be cleared on Friday, but only 14 containers were cleared. A handing-over ceremony was held to announce this latest development.

    At the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Ohene, revealed that a special provision of GHC40 million was made by the Ministry of Finance to cover transnational taxes, AU and ECOWAS levies on the containers.

    What remained outstanding were third-party charges, which the donors, per reports, had decided to take up.

    “Unfortunately, upon arrival of the consignment at the port, the associated charges could not be paid. This information was also not communicated to the Ministry of Finance on time,” Emmanuel Ohene said.

    Earlier, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Health raised concerns about the government’s ability to resolve the issue of delayed lifesaving drugs stuck at the port.

    Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, Dr. Thomas Anaba, has revealed that the delay in clearing medical supplies donated by the Global Fund has resulted in a significant increase in tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS cases.

    “There is an increase in the cases of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS from last year’s figure, and the complications of people dying from AIDS have also increased. Women getting malaria during pregnancy have increased because of this.”

  • Gov’t to clear pharmaceutical products at Tema Port today – Report 

    Gov’t to clear pharmaceutical products at Tema Port today – Report 

    The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Health has raised concerns about the government’s ability to resolve the issue of delayed lifesaving drugs stuck at the port by Friday, April 12.

    The Ministry of Health has reported significant progress in clearing 182 of the 435 containers of antiretrovirals, TB, and malaria medicines at the Tema Port.

    However, there are concerns about the remaining containers and the threat by the Global Fund to withhold supplies to Ghana if the delays are not resolved.

    President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network, Ernest Ortsin, has expressed doubt that all the items will be cleared within the specified time frame. He shared these concerns in an interview with Citi News.

    “We welcome the intervention from the Ministry of Health, except that this is not the first time they are making such a promise to us.

    “The difference this time is that the new acting Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority has also stepped into the matter, and she has indicated that she is going to collaborate with the ministry to ensure that they claim the commodities.

    “That is what is new about this new statement from the ministry. So, we are giving them the benefit of the doubt, hoping that by Friday, they will be able to claim all the commodities,” he said.

  • Locked up antiretroviral drugs at Tema Port alarming – AIDS Commission

    Locked up antiretroviral drugs at Tema Port alarming – AIDS Commission

    The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, has expressed concern over the delays in clearing essential healthcare products, particularly critical antiretroviral treatments (ARVs), at the ports.

    Since June 2023, three shipments containing HIV ARVs have been stranded at the ports, posing a significant risk of viral spread.

    Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene informed Citi News of the urgent need for these pharmaceuticals, as approximately 236 million global fund containers, including 211 malaria test kits and bed nets, remain stuck at the port.

    The situation has strained the healthcare system and endangered individuals in need of these medications.

    Dr. Atuahene underscored the importance of collaborating with the private sector to secure financing for HIV response efforts in the country.

    He pointed out that in many other African nations, the private sector plays a vital role in funding healthcare initiatives, suggesting that Ghana should follow suit.

    He also identified the National Health Assurance as a primary funding source and emphasized the necessity of exploring additional avenues, such as budgetary allocations outlined in Act 938.

    “I cannot see why we always wait for commodities to stay at the port for so long and attract the mortgage when, especially, we have custom bonded warehouses where these commodities can be moved immediately after arrival so we do not attract the charges. But the duty bearers who are supposed to ensure that this works and works very well are sleeping on the job.

    “I’m sorry to put it that way. And it is so embarrassing for some of us that we continue to fail to do our work and put the country and the government in such a bad light in the sight of our development partners. It’s so bad. It shouldn’t happen.”

  • Two people arrested after $24,000 worth of drugs and cash were found

    Two people arrested after $24,000 worth of drugs and cash were found

    Windsor police found $24,000 worth of drugs and cash during their investigation.

    The police arrested two people they think are guilty and took away $13,505 worth of illegal drugs and $10,844 in cash.

    On Wednesday, the Windsor Police found and arrested a 29-year-old man who they think was selling drugs. During the arrest, police found $2,960 in Canadian money and eight tablets of 5mg oxycodone.

    After the police arrested the suspect, they searched the suspect’s home on Dandurand Ave. in the 3200 block. Police found and took 102. 3 grams of cocaine, six buprenorphine tablets, 19 oxycodone (5mg) tablets, eight oxycodone (20mg) tablets, 28 oxycodone (40mg) tablets, 22 oxycodone (80mg) tablets, two digital scales, $7,000 in Canadian money, and $504 in American money.

    The police found and arrested a 25-year-old woman who lived in the same house.

    After the arrest, police searched the suspect’s car and found $380, bear spray, and a collapsible baton. The car, a 2009 Jaguar CPL, was taken by the police.

    The man is accused of:

    • Having a dangerous drug with intent to sell (x 7)

    • Having money or things gained from breaking the law (more than $5,000)

    The woman has been accused of:

    Having an illegal drug with the intention of selling it (x 6)

    Having money that was obtained by committing a crime (more than $5,000)

    If you know something, please call the Windsor Police DIGS Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. The number 4361. You can also contact Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers without giving your name at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www. catchcrookscom

    If you or someone you know needs help because of a crime, please call Victim Services Windsor Essex County at 519-723-2711 or the Victim Assistance Unit at Windsor Police at 519-255-6700, ext. “4879”

  • Agbeko shares insights on spiritual attacks and substance abuse

    Agbeko shares insights on spiritual attacks and substance abuse

    Voltarian rapper Bismark Agbeko Yankah, widely recognized as Agbeko and formerly associated with the renowned producer Hammer Last Two, has opened up about the obstacles that caused his music career to come to a halt.

    During an interview with Giovani Caleb on 3FM, Agbeko revealed that spiritual attacks three years ago signaled the start of his music career’s decline, leading to a subsequent 20-year hiatus from music.

    “It all started three years ago, I started experiencing some spiritual attacks and all that that is how come I lost my locks and all that. I have to start going to spiritual churches. I go for prayers and all so I have to take off my locks as directed by my spiritual pastor,” he shared during the interview on 3FMDrive.

    Agbeko acknowledged that he had previously struggled with drug abuse, but he also acknowledged that he was clean now and that he needed help in his recovery.

    “I know I was on drugs and all that but as long as the street is concerned when I do not have anywhere to lay my head, I find myself sleeping on the street every time so people thought I was still doing drugs,” Agbeko confessed. “Few months ago, I started staying away from it I still need help with my rehabilitation. I have been homeless for one and a half year now.”

    Agbeko emphasized his determination to revive his music career and shared that he is currently working on a project, hoping for the necessary support to bring it to fruition.

  • I gave all my money in my pocket the first time I did drugs – Nigeria’s Timaya

    I gave all my money in my pocket the first time I did drugs – Nigeria’s Timaya

    Renowned Nigerian singer, Timaya, recently shared his harrowing battle with drug addiction, offering insights into a tumultuous period that nearly derailed his life and career.

    In a poignant revelation, the Afro-dancehall artist delved into the profound impact of his journey, presenting both a cautionary tale and an inspiring narrative of resilience.

    During a candid interview with The Beat FM, Timaya recounted the dark days when drug dependency threatened to engulf him, highlighting the toll it exacted on his mental and physical health. The artist, known by his real name Inetimi Timaya Odon, admitted that the allure of substance abuse momentarily clouded his judgment, leading him down a perilous path.

    The “Bum Bum” crooner revealed that the turning point arrived when he recognized the destructive nature of his habits and understood the toll they were exacting on his life and career.

    Timaya underscored the significance of self-awareness in overcoming addiction, emphasizing the profound commitment required for change.

    “Everybody was home (during COVID) and there are those young guys in my house who are always so happy. I was like ‘Bro, how are you guys happier than me? I am the boss, I got money. What are you guys on?’ And they told me that they got molly (a popular recreational drug).”

    “When I took it, I did not understand myself. I was so happy that I dashed all the money in my pocket,” Timaya said.

    The artist revealed that he relied on the substance to experience a sense of happiness.

    “How you go just want dey happy? You are supposed to, first of all, be happy naturally. But when you now need substance to make you happy, it replaces the natural happiness. So you have to be buying happiness,” he said

    https://youtu.be/3RTlZzlNrO0
  • “Stop drugs and use your strength for a better course” – Asantehene tells youth

    “Stop drugs and use your strength for a better course” – Asantehene tells youth

    Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has encouraged the youth in his domain to harness their strength and redirect it towards endeavors that contribute to the advancement and progress of Asanteman by abstaining from drug abuse.

    He emphasized the importance of following in the footsteps of Asantes’ ancestors, who courageously fought to ensure the continuity and prosperity of Asante.

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasized that by emulating the noble actions of their forebears, the current generation can uphold the rich legacy of Asanteman and secure a brighter future for themselves and future generations.

    “Stop drugs and use your strength for a better course. That was not how Asanteman was built. Our predecessors did it and we can do it too. Strive to retain Asanteman just as Nananom did. Young men and women must emulate our predecessors,” he said.

    Otumfuo made this clarion call during the Kuntunkuni Durbar held at the Manhyia Palace on February 8, 2024.

    The durbar was organized to mark the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War of 1874, a significant event that resulted in the destruction of Kumasi and the plundering of treasures from the Palace of Asantehene Kofi Karikari.

    During the event, the Fowler Museum formally presented Otumfuo with seven artifacts that had been taken from the Palace to the United States of America (USA) and later returned. Notably among these items was a royal stool belonging to Asantehene Kofi Karikari, the 10th Asantehene.

    In his submission, the Asantehene noted that no machinations could ever destroy the Ashanti Kingdom while the Golden Stool, which is the soul of the land, remains.

    “Asante is alive. 150 years ago, the whites destroyed this city but the Golden Stool remained. All kinds of guns came here, but Golden Stool remained untouched. So far as the Golden Stool remains, no one can touch Asanteman. It is the soul of Asanteman and Nananom used their blood to protect it.

  • Antiretroviral drugs stuck at Tema port released by Health Ministry

    Antiretroviral drugs stuck at Tema port released by Health Ministry

    Antiretroviral medications that had been held up at the Tema port due to tax-related concerns have now been released by the Ministry of Health.

    This comes after the population of Ghana expressed anger at the government for not providing the medications that HIV/AIDS sufferers require.

    The prescriptions were cleared on Friday, October 13, according to a statement from the ministry released on Monday, October 16, 2023, and distribution to the numerous hospitals experiencing the scarcity has begun.

    “The Ministry of Health is pleased to inform the general public that the antiretroviral medications which delayed at Tema port was cleared on Friday, October 13, 2023, as was assured by the Ministry in relation to the rejoinder published on Saturday, October 7, 2023, on the aforementioned subject matter.

    “The distribution of the medications to all affected facilities has begun in earnest.

    “The Ministry is working in close collaboration with the Ghana Supply Commission to ensure seamless clearance of such drugs and related ones in future,” the statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry, Isaac Ofei-Baah said.

    The Ministry had promised last week to clear the tax waivers that had hindered the release of the drugs.

    “The Ministry of Health has taken note of some media headlines suggesting that donated antiretroviral drugs have been abandoned at ports since July, supposedly due to the government’s failure to waive taxes.

    “The Ministry categorically states that these headlines are misleading and do not accurately reflect the truth.

    “Having brought this to the attention of the commission, steps have been taken to secure the needed extra funds to ensure clearance by Friday, October 13, 2023,” the statement said.

    Antiretroviral medications being readily available now would be a big comfort for the patients and the hospitals.

  • Drugs worth €500,000 confiscated in Ireland

    Drugs worth €500,000 confiscated in Ireland

    The police in Ireland, called Gardaí, along with the Irish Revenue service, has taken away drugs worth about €450,000 (£390,000) from Dublin Airport last Friday.

    A dog named Blue checked the bags of a traveler who got off a plane from Los Angeles.

    About 225 kilograms of marijuana was discovered in the bags.

    Police said a woman in her 30s was taken into custody and detained for questioning.

    They said the woman had already appeared in court and their investigations were still going on.

  • Polish man apprehended in Kenya in possession of heroin valued at $22,000

    Polish man apprehended in Kenya in possession of heroin valued at $22,000

    Kenyan detectives have apprehended a Polish individual suspected of drug trafficking at the main airport in the capital, Nairobi.

    The suspect, identified as Arkadiusz Stanislaw, was taken into custody with heroin worth $22,000 (£18,000) just moments before attempting to board an Egypt-bound Hungarian airline at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

    The police have detained Stanislaw, and he is currently awaiting court arraignment.

    Margaret Karanja, the Director of Kenya’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate, has issued a stern warning, stating that all individuals involved in drug-related activities will face the full force of the law, regardless of their role in the trade.

    It’s important to note that East Africa is a significant transit point for the trafficking of drugs from the Middle East to the West.

  • Drug user kills friend in order to ‘teach him a lesson’

    Drug user kills friend in order to ‘teach him a lesson’

    A person who was addicted to drugs strangled their friend to teach them a lesson and then took their £15 television. They have been sent to prison.

    Salieu Seray-Wurie, who is 26 years old, did a very mean thing at Darren Ammon’s apartment in Shoreditch, which is in east London, on October 15 of last year.

    Mr Ammon, who is 47 years old, let a person who is addicted to Class A drugs stay in his apartment. However, on the day he was killed, Mr. Ammon called the police because he wanted the person to go away. This information was shared at the Old Bailey court.

    Seray-Wurie came back later to get his bank card. He was very angry and used a cord to strangle Mr. Ammon while he begged for his life.

    He left Mr Ammon sleeping under a blanket while he took the TV and sold it for £15.

    The neighbors called the police when they found Mr. Ammon tied up with his wrists and knees, and the cord was still around his neck three days later.

    Bernard Tetlow KC explained that Seray-Wurie went through mistreatment by his father and was sent away from his family in Sierra Leone.

  • Boutique owner accused of orchestrating sexual assault against GhOne TV presenter

    Boutique owner accused of orchestrating sexual assault against GhOne TV presenter

    A woman known as Soshez Fashion, originally from London but residing in Accra, has been implicated in an alleged incident involving the drugging and assault of GhOne TV presenter Yazzi.

    As reported by blogger Sel the Bomb, it is claimed that Soshez Fashion, who operates a boutique in Accra, drugged Yazzi and engaged in a threesome with her and her boyfriend.

    This story has garnered significant attention in recent days, and additional details are emerging. According to Sel’s account, the three individuals went out for the evening, and at some point, drugs were surreptitiously added to Yazzi’s drink.

    Subsequently, they returned to a residence for what is alleged to have been a consensual encounter, despite the presenter supposedly being under the influence of the drugs.

    Furthermore, it is purported that Soshez Fashion recorded the entire incident and later used it to threaten Yazzi following a dispute between them.

    The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the boutique owner, who was later released on bail.

    Additionally, due to Yazzi’s reported American citizenship, the American embassy has become involved in the case, and authorities have reportedly seized Soshez’s British passport.

  • Ghana Police labeled as most bribe takers

    Ghana Police labeled as most bribe takers

    An alarming corruption report from 2022 has brought attention to the pervasive issue of bribery within Ghana’s public sector.

    The findings reveal that police officers have shown the highest vulnerability to bribery among all public officials, with an alarming prevalence rate of 53.2 percent.

    Conducted collaboratively by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the survey provides a troubling glimpse into the scope of corruption.

    Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Officers and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) customs officers also stand out with significant bribery rates of 37.4 percent and 33.6 percent, respectively.

    Interestingly, elected government representatives exhibit notably lower involvement in bribery, registering a mere 2.9 percent.

    Different forms of bribes are given to public officials. A striking 84.8 percent of bribes in Ghana are in the form of cash. While the exchange of a public service for another service and offering food and drink are less common, rural areas (17.8 percent) show a higher tendency to use food and drink bribes compared to urban areas (10.1 percent).

    The cumulative value of cash bribes in Ghana nearly amounts to a third of the Ministry of Education’s 2021 budget.

    Urban cash bribes are 1.5 times larger than rural ones, with the national average bribe standing at 348 Ghanaian cedi. Considering approximately 17.4 million bribes were paid in Ghana in 2021, the annual sum for cash bribes to public officials is around 5 billion Ghanaian cedi, equivalent to 32.9 percent of the Ministry of Education’s 2021 budget.

  • Woman busted for using 10-year-old niece as drug courier

    Woman busted for using 10-year-old niece as drug courier

    A woman named Taiye Abbas has been apprehended for allegedly using her 10-year-old niece as a drugs courier in Lagos.

    As per the police, the individual in question, who is the minor’s aunt, concealed drugs in the young girl’s clothing as a strategy to evade security measures.

    During a conversation with journalists, the young girl disclosed that the 44-year-old woman is her maternal aunt, and she had brought her to Lagos after her father’s demise in Kwara State.

    “She brought me to Lagos two months ago from Ilorin, and she has been using me to move drugs from the house to her shop. After taking my bath in the morning, she would load drugs inside my undies, which I would deliver in her shop. Mummy would carefully remove the drugs and sell them to some people who come everyday.

    Mummy told me that she had to conceal the drugs in my undies because of policemen and other security agencies. I would pass the police with the drugs and they would not search me, because they may think that I was innocent.

    I was always sad anytime she planted the drugs on me. I did not complain because she would beat me. My father is dead and my biological mother is in Ilorin. I want the police to take me to my grandfather. My grandfather is in Lagos. I don’t want to stay with my aunt again,” the little girl said.

    After the police questioned the woman, she disclosed that she was introduced into the business by one Azeez about three months and used her niece as courier for drugs two months ago.

    “I sent her to  buy a loaf of bread across the street, and she missed her way. I was looking for her when I got a call to come to the police station to identify a child found roaming the street. I rushed to the station, and discovered that the girl is my niece. I was happy that I found my missing niece, not knowing that danger was lurking around. I was shocked when the policemen in the station started interrogating me about the drugs found in her pants.”

    Speaking about the case, the Lagos state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, “The discovery prompted further questions which revealed that this has been going on for a long time. So, we had to extend the investigation to her house and we were able to bring her guardian (suspect) to the police station. She did not deny it.”

    “She admitted that this had been her way to courier drugs from her house to the shop, where she would sell them, to beat police checks. That is why we are exposing her and the method drug barons now use to courier drugs within the metropolis. However, the girl will be handed over to her family in Ilorin, while the suspect will be prosecuted accordingly.”

  • Abusing sleeping pills pose serious risks – Pharmacist

    Abusing sleeping pills pose serious risks – Pharmacist

    The Head of Pharmacy at Pleasant Medical Centre in Ashaiman, Middle East, Stephen Ohene Sabi, has cautioned the public about the misuse of sleeping pills.

    He highlighted that one of the main concerns with sleeping medications is their frequent usage.

    Sleeping drugs are central nervous system depressants that slow down brain activity to aid in sleep.

    Speaking at the weekly “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!” program, initiated by the Ghana News Agency’s Tema Regional Office to enhance health communication and promote health literacy, Mr. Sabi emphasized the need to raise awareness about the potential risks associated with these medications.

    He explained that the most common type of sleeping drug is benzodiazepines, typically taken in 10mg doses.

    Some individuals may wrongly assume that taking them every night is harmless. However, dependency and tolerance can lead to unintended consequences.

    Mr. Sabi cautioned that relying on these medications could result in the need for significantly higher doses to achieve sleep. He advised that the solution lies in gradually reducing the intake of such drugs.

    “The body adjusts with continued use, causing a physical dependence on the medication; therefore, a reduction in dosage and skipping a day or two before taking the pills will eventually reverse the body to its default,” he suggested.

    Mr. Sabi stressed the importance of reading instructions and understanding the potential side effects and reactions associated with medication before taking a responsible dose.

    He highlighted the World Health Organization’s advocacy for self-care, which includes proper nutrition and responsible self-medication. Individuals are encouraged to gather information about medications before consuming them.

    Mr. Sabi cautioned against the abuse of medications through overdosing, emphasizing the adverse effects they can have on patients. While some medicines may have minor side effects like constipation, headaches, or diarrhea, others can cause severe side effects that may necessitate medical intervention.

    Regarding women who experience blood loss during their menstrual cycles, Mr. Sabi suggested considering blood tonic medicines or consulting a healthcare professional for appropriate advice, depending on the individual situation. He also recommended consuming healthy meals that can naturally replenish blood, in addition to or instead of taking blood tonics.

    Furthermore, Mr. Sabi advised individuals with health conditions such as kidney or liver problems to refrain from taking any medications without a proper prescription from a healthcare professional.

  • 65 smuggling drugs in toothpaste tubes arrested in Vietnam

    65 smuggling drugs in toothpaste tubes arrested in Vietnam

    For importing 50kg of heroin into Vietnam, some of which were disguised in toothpaste tubes, police have detained 65 people.

    It comes after the arrests of four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants last month who were discovered to have the tubes in carry-on luggage following a flight from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City.

    Although they claimed to have been hired to transport 60 kg of toothpaste, they were actually carrying ecstasy, ketamine, and cocaine.

    Image caption: Crack cocaine

    Even though it has some of the strictest drug regulations in the world, Vietnam is a major center for drug trafficking.

    The 327 toothpaste tubes the flight attendants were carrying contained narcotics in around half of them. The women, who are currently out on bond, were reportedly oblivious of their contents, according to investigators.

    Vietnam jails a political activist for six years for participating in anti-state actions

    Police said this week that the 65 suspects had been arrested after they uncovered another six shipments of narcotics being smuggled into Vietnam via the same route.

    It is alleged they were directed by the same smuggling ring that hired the flight attendants.

    The 65 suspects are being investigated for various charges, including buying, selling, transporting and storing narcotics, local media reported.

    Police suspect the same syndicate often uses Vietnamese nationals studying and living in France to bring drugs into the country.

    Once the drugs arrive at Vietnamese airports, domestic delivery services transport them to an accomplice in Dong Nai province bordering Saigon.

    Vietnamese man has a school of wild river fish for a pet

    The drugs are then transported to multiple localities for distribution.

    Authorities say the amount of drugs seized via air routes into the country over the past three months has surpassed the amount of airborne drugs trafficked in the past five years combined.

    Ho Chi Minh City is a particularly attractive transit point for smugglers because of its proximity to neighbouring Cambodia.

    Those convicted in Vietnam of possessing or smuggling more than 600g of heroin or more than 2.5kg of methamphetamine face the death penalty. Production or sale of illegal narcotics above certain quantities is also punishable by death.

  • 20 suspected drug dealers arrested

    In the Lagos State communities of Ondo, Kebbi, Akala, and Idumota, NDLEA agents have detained 20 suspected drug dealers, including women, and recovered tons of drugs.

    Spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, December 11, 2022.

    At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday 9th December.

    Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on Saturday 10th December led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run.

    This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the Agency arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane on Monday 5th December with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute -Ero Jetty in Lagos.

     

    In Ondo state, operatives on Tuesday 6th December stormed sharp corner, Ipele forest in Owo area of the state where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju with C/S weighing 903.3kgs, while another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara at Igbotako area of the state, with 168.5kgs of the same substance; 6kgs of monkey tail and various quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

    On Monday, 5th December, two suspects: Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade were intercepted along Koko- Kebbi road in a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kilograms concealed under crates of soft drinks.

    While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Seaports Operations, Ondo, and other commands, for their hard work and diligence leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa urged them and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts.

    NDLEA arrests 20 drug dealers including two women, seizes tons of narcotics

  • Nigerian policemen extort N385,000 from Nurse in Delta

    Some of her goods and other drugs were also confiscated by the policemen with the condition that another huge amount of money must be paid to them.

    Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, have extorted N385,000 from an auxiliary nurse and a patent medicine store owner, Blessing Ejike, in Azagba-Ogwash community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    SaharaReporters learnt that six policemen committed the fraud, when they accosted the nurse, who was arrested and taken to the Azagba-Ogwash police post.

    Some of her goods and other drugs were also confiscated by the policemen with the condition that another huge amount of money must be paid to them before the goods and other drugs could be released to her.

    Narrating the incident to SaharaReporters, a witness, simply identified as Monica, said trouble started when the policemen stormed the nurse’s patent medicine store at Azagba-Ogwash community with an unmarked sienna vehicle, alleging that she sold tramadol tablets that had been banned by the federal government.

    Monica said, “The six policemen from the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, were working in synergy with the Divisional Crime Officer, Ina Lekam Ikoi, in charge of the Azagba-Ogwash police post. The six police officers arrested the nurse and seized some of her goods and drugs and took them to the Azagba-Ogwash police post. Thereafter they took the nurse to her house where a search was conducted without even a search warrant and nothing incriminating was found. At this stage, the nurse was taken back to the police post where the sum of N350,000 was extorted from her and she was released.

    “But her seized goods and other drugs from her store were taken away with a condition that unless she pays another money, her seized goods and other drugs will not be released to her and that was how they were taken away to unknown destination.

    “That is how the police officer in charge of Azagba-Ogwash police post collaborates with his colleagues from Asaba and other police stations to extort money from indigenes every now and then.”

    Speaking with SaharaReporters on her ordeal, the nurse cried out and demanded the unconditional release of her goods and other drugs and refund of her hard earned N385,000 allegedly extorted from her by the police.

    “After that arrest, just on Thursday night last week, a man who was owing me N1,500 for the treatment of his son, because of a disagreement between us, he arrested me to the Azagba-Ogwash police post. After my statement, one of the policemen, called Saturday, extorted N5,000 from me that I must report back the following day which is Friday. The following day I reported and another sum of N30,000 was again extorted from me through one of the female officers bringing the total money I paid to N385,000.

    “The DCO and his officers who extorted the N35,000 from me are already denying that I should show the receipt given to me for the extortion and they are threatened me seriously. The man who is owing me N1,500 for the treatment of his son that arrested me also threatened me and should anything happens to me he should be held responsible. I am calling on the state Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali and the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Usman Usman Alkali Baba, to intervene in this my case and have my seized goods and other drugs released as well as the refund of my N385,000,” she pleaded.

    As at the time of filing this report, Ejike’s goods and other drugs confiscated by the police team from Asaba had not been released to her and when contacted on the issue, the Divisional Crime Officer, (DCO), Ina Lekam Ikoi, in charge of the Azagba-Ogwash police post said he was aware of the two cases concerning the nurse.

    He also declined comments on the alleged N385,000 extorted from the nurse.

     

    Source: Sahara Reports

  • ‘I forgot about myself’ – Barber grabbed with drugs at police station

    A barber who went to visit his friend on remand at Baatsona Police Station, has ended in Police cells for possessing drugs.

    Abdulai Hamza was grabbed with 13 wrappers of whitish substances and three wrappers of plant materials, all suspected to be narcotic drugs.

    Charged with two counts of unlawful possession or control of narcotic drugs, Hamza pleaded not guilty.

    Hamza told police personnel that, “I forgot about myself when I went to the Police Station.”

    Hamza has been remanded into lawful custody by the court presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Tosu and he is expected to reappear on October 10.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Josephine Lamptey said the complainants were Police personnel from Baatsona Police Station.

    Inspector Lamptey said accused who resided at Baatsona, on September 18, this year, called at the Station to visit his friend known as Gideon Sedzro, a remand prisoner.

    Prosecution said Hamza was there to ask Sedzro what he would like to eat.

    The prosecutor said the Police gave him permission to talk to his friend.

    However, prosecution said, the Police suspected him following his suspicious gestures and movements.

    Prosecution said therefore conducted a search on him and 13 wrappers of whitish substance and three wrappers of plant material suspected to be narcotic drugs were found.

    According to prosecution, the alleged narcotic drugs were found in Hamza’s shirt which he claimed ownership.

    The prosecutor said the exhibits had been forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analytical examination.

    Source: Ghanaweb.com

  • ‘I forgot about myself’ – Barber grabbed with drugs at police station

    A barber who went to visit his friend on remand at Baatsona Police Station, has ended in Police cells for possessing drugs.

    Abdulai Hamza was grabbed with 13 wrappers of whitish substances and three wrappers of plant materials, all suspected to be narcotic drugs.

    Charged with two counts of unlawful possession or control of narcotic drugs, Hamza pleaded not guilty.

    Hamza told police personnel that, “I forgot about myself when I went to the Police Station.”

    Hamza has been remanded into lawful custody by the court presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Tosu and he is expected to reappear on October 10.

    Prosecuting Police Inspector Josephine Lamptey said the complainants were Police personnel from Baatsona Police Station.

    Inspector Lamptey said accused who resided at Baatsona, on September 18, this year, called at the Station to visit his friend known as Gideon Sedzro, a remand prisoner.

    Prosecution said Hamza was there to ask Sedzro what he would like to eat.

    The prosecutor said the Police gave him permission to talk to his friend.

    However, prosecution said, the Police suspected him following his suspicious gestures and movements.

    Prosecution said therefore conducted a search on him and 13 wrappers of whitish substance and three wrappers of plant material suspected to be narcotic drugs were found.

    According to prosecution, the alleged narcotic drugs were found in Hamza’s shirt which he claimed ownership.

    The prosecutor said the exhibits had been forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analytical examination.

  • Bananas donated to a Texas prison turn out to be $18 million of cocaine

    The department received 45 boxes of donated bananas from Ports of America in Freeport near the Gulf of Mexico. But it turns out the donation was a greater gift than either organization could have imagined, containing an additional 540 packages of cocaine, valued at nearly $18 million.

    “Sometimes, life gives you lemons. Sometimes, it gives you bananas,” the TDCJ post joked.

    According to the post, the discovery was made by two of its sergeants after they noticed “something not quite right” with the boxes after they were unloaded. Once they started pulling apart these suspicious boxes, they discovered a white powdery substance and notified port authorities.

    Sure enough, when life handed them bananas, it was actually a shit ton of cocaine.

    Not many other details are known about this bizarre turn of events. But the TDCJ assured its followers that the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs, and Border Protection were now investigating into the matter.

    I guess we’ll have to wait for the Season 6 of Breaking Bad that’s never happening to fully understand the plot twist of sending a massive cache of illegal drugs to a literal prison.

    Source:yahoo.com

  • How I lost my job, property and wife to drugs Police Investigator in MV Benjamin cocaine bust

    One of four police detectives in the infamous MV Benjamin Cocaine bust, Detective Sergeant Nobert Anane Dei has revealed that he lost his job and marriage as a result of his involvement in drugs.

    He indicated that he has now come to the realization that cocaine is a demonic commodity and once you start, there is the possibility of perpetually getting hooked up and one would need a miracle to be saved.

    “I deserted duties as a result of my addiction to cocaine, I was tried in absentia and sacked. I sold all my property and my wife divorced me. The police service realized I had a problem in the wake of me moving from one place to the other. I sold my Opel Astra, TV and any other property I could lay my hands on. I was just ready to do anything to survive”, he revealed in an interview with Kofi Adomah Nwanwanii monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

    According to him, he started stealing from friends and relations to finance his addiction adding that he literally became wayward and homeless.

    “I was now forced to be sleeping in ghettos and under bridges because I had been kicked out of the police barracks since I was no longer with the Police Service. I was a pickpocket and engaging in all manner of acts”, he revealed.

    It would be recalled that In July 2008, the Accra Fast Track High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Anin Yeboah, now Chief Justice, convicted and sentenced Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the MV Benjamin and Managing Director of Dashment Company Limited; Isaac Arhin, a sailor; Phillip Bruce Arhin, a mechanic; Cui Xian Li, the vessel engineer, and Luo Yui Xing, a sailor, all crew members of the MV Benjamin, to 25 years imprisonment each with hard labour.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Nigeria highest in drug use prevalence – UNO

    The National Programme Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mrs Folusho Adelekan, said on Tuesday that Nigeria has been ranked as the highest in drug use prevalence rate in the world.

    She said the nation accounted for 14.3 percent as against 5.3 percent of the entire global community.

    Mrs Adelekan stated this in Abuja at a sensitisation workshop on Drug Abuse and Rape organised by Christabels Initiatives and facilitated by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Drugs and Narcotics.

    She said available statistics showed that there were 14.4m drug users in Nigeria at 14.3 percent prevalence rate.

    She said, “The National Drug Control Master Plan Nigeria which came up within the last two years is not being funded adequately and the menace requires action-packed operational strategy that must be well funded.

    “Apart from the lack of well funded operational plan, there are no enough treatment or rehabilitation centres in the country for drug addicts.”

    A Deputy Director with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Yinka Falola-Anoemuah, said the seriousness of actions applied in tackling the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country, should be used in confronting the menace of drug abuse and rape in Nigeria.

    She said, “Two million people are living with AIDS in Nigeria, but being managed without much havoc in the country. Even at that, the operational master plan has been put on the ground to end AIDS in Nigeria by 2030, the way Polio was eliminated.”

    Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the House Leader, Hassan Doguwa, said most of the drug addicts in the country lacked the required discipline and decent upbringing at the home front.

    He added, “This is the very reason curricular at the primary and secondary school levels need to be reviewed for the inclusion of subjects against drug abuse and violence against women, particularly rape.”

    Source: punchng.com

  • Pablo Escobar: Money hidden in wall found in drug lord’s house

    A nephew of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar has said he found a plastic bag with money worth $18m (£14m) hidden in the wall of one of his uncle’s houses.

    Nicolás Escobar told Colombian media “a vision” indicated where to look for the money in the apartment where he lives in the city of Medellín.

    He said it was not the first time he found money in places where his uncle used to avoid capture, as Escobar reportedly hid millions in properties.

    He died in a police shootout in 1993.

    At the peak of his career Escobar was said to be the seventh richest person on the planet.

    Rumours of Escobar’s hidden fortunes have circulated in Medellín since his death, after he spent decades waging war against the Colombian state to prevent his extradition to the United States.

    Nicolás Escobar told Colombian TV channel Red+ Noticias he had also found a typewriter, satellite phones, gold pen, a camera and a film roll yet to be developed.

    “Every time I sat in the dining room and looked towards the car park, I saw a man entering the place and disappearing,” he said.

    “The smell [inside] was astonishing. A smell 100 times worse than something that had died.”

    Some of decades-old banknotes were decayed and no longer usable, said Nicolás Escobar, who has been living in the apartment for the last five years.

    In the interview, he said he accompanied his uncle on many occasions, and that he was once kidnapped by individuals looking for Escobar’s whereabouts: “I was tortured for seven hours. Two of my workers were attacked with a chainsaw.”

    Who was Pablo Escobar?

    Escobar was born in Rionegro, Colombia in 1949 and established a drug cartel in Medellín in the 1970s.

    At its most active, the gang supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States.

    His wealth catapulted him into the Forbes list of global billionaires for seven years.

    After the US issued an extradition order, Escobar resisted capture and his gang targeted politicians, the police and journalists.
    After he was arrested in 1991, Escobar was housed in a prison of his own design, nicknamed the Cathedral, where he continued to oversee the Medellín Cartel.

    In all, Escobar is thought to be responsible for some 4,000 deaths.
    But his humble roots made him popular among some Colombians whose support he cultivated by giving out large amounts of cash and investing in poor neighbourhoods in Medellín.

    Pablo Escobar reportedly hid money in numerous properties in Medellín

    Source: bbc.com

  • Narcotics transporter arrested at Yamoransa

    A young man believed to be a hardened transporter of cannabis in the Assin area was arrested at the Yamoransa Police barrier.

    He was nabbed in a mini passenger bus with registration number GR-5496-18 with eight passengers commuting from Tantri lorry station in Cape Coast to Assin Fosu in the Assin Central Municipality.

    The police during its routine checks and inspection of the vehicles at about 0830 hours discovered four slabs of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis commonly called “wee”.

    They told the Ghana News Agency, he was transporting the cannabis to a seller at Assin Darmang, the capital of the Assin South District of the Central Region.

    Mr Tandoh, the policeman who made the arrest lamented the changing antics of the youth in transporting narcotics on the route and charged the peddlers to desist from the act.

    The driver of the mini Nissan Urvan bus who gave his name as Kwaku expressed shock about the act of the suspect and urged all drivers to be mindful of the passengers who board their vehicles.

    They should report all suspicious characters to the police and desist from engaging in any act of transporting or using narcotics drugs.

    Source: GNA

  • Drug addict threatens to kill herself over addiction

    A popular drug addict who is known for directing traffic at Tema casino area, in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa, has threatened to poison herself over her inability to stop drugs.

    According to her, she has been an addict for so many years; however, her many efforts to stop have always been futile hence, she has no option now than to poison herself.

    “If my persistent efforts to stop these drugs still yields no results, I will kill myself”. She said.

    Again, “feeling sister, as she is popularly known, said, her disregard for many advice from her parents as well as colleagues is the reason she is suffering today, adding that, she believes God will make a way one day.

    She ended, by advising the youth especially young girls of today, to be more submissive to their parents, listen to advice, and also stop unnecessary friendship.

    Watch the interview below.

     

    Source: svtvafrica.com

  • Retailers asked to practice ‘First Expired First Out’ principle

    Mr Sabastian Mawuli Hotor, the Upper East Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has advised retailers in the Region to practice good storage and stocking practices.

    He said such as practice known as “First Expired First Out (FEFO)” would be to rid the market of unwholesome products.

    He explained that products near expiration dates should be arranged in front of shelves while those with later dates of expiration be arranged behind to easily notice expired products for appropriate action.

    Mr Hotor gave the advice when he addressed the media at Pumpuugu, a community at Sherigu in the Bolgatanga Municipality after his outfit destroyed some unwholesome regulated products valued at an estimated cost of Gh¢ 203, 181.64.

    He urged members of the public to check for expiry dates and registration status of products before buying and insisted that regulated products be purchased from accredited and recognized sources to ensure the safety of members of the public.

    “Public health and safety is our prime objective, and our activities are always geared towards providing assurance of safe food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals, medical devices, and all other regulated products in Ghana,” he emphasized.

    Mr Hotor said the FDA during its routine Post Market Surveillance activities in the Region confiscated several unwholesome products such as food products and supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, herbal medicines, and household chemicals from the market over the past one year.

    The Regional Director indicated that the purpose of the exercise was to rid the market of expired, counterfeit, contaminated, unregistered, and all other kinds of unwholesome regulated products on the market.

    He added that the exercise was to prevent the potential re-entry of those unwholesome regulated products into the supply chain, and said the disposal consignments were seized from provisions shops, Over the Counter Chemical shops, pharmacies, warehouses, herbal clinics, cosmetic shops and open markets across all 15 districts of the Region.

    Mr Hotor further called on members of the public to: “Report anybody selling expired, unregistered and unwholesome products to the FDA via the following media platforms; WhatsApp 0206973065, Facebook @ Food and Drugs Authority Ghana, Twitter @gh_fda, Instagram@ Food and Drugs Authority Ghana.”

    He said the FDA could also be contacted through the hotlines; 0299802932/0299802933 or SMS to 4015.

    The Director acknowledged the collaboration of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental and Sanitation Agency, the Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Police Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Pharmacy Council, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Ghana Health Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and other stakeholders who complement efforts of the FDA to execute its mandate.

    Mr Hotor urged the general public to continue to observe all protocols from the Ghana Health Service towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

    Source: GNA

  • Mexican drug lord Carrillo Fuentes’ villa auctioned for $2m

    The Mexican government has auctioned off the villa of the late drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes.

    The Mexico City home sold for more than $2m (£1.6m) and the proceeds will go to Mexico’s public health service and its fight against coronavirus.

    Carrillo Fuentes, who was known as “Lord of the Skies”, died in 1997 after botched plastic surgery.

    He gained his nickname for his knack of smuggling large quantities of drugs in his private fleet of airplanes.

    Amado Carillo Fuentes was one of the most powerful Mexican drug lords in the 1980s and 1990s. Born in the northern state of Sinaloa, he was the nephew of one of the founders of the Guadalajara cartel, which he soon joined.

    Carillo Fuentes learned to fly planes and would later use his knowledge of planes and flight routes to expand the drug-smuggling business to the skies, earning him his nickname.

    He began by smuggling marijuana but later switched to smuggling mainly cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and on to the US in his fleet of aeroplanes.

    He took control of the Juárez cartel after killing his boss, Rafael Aguilar Guajardo, and was known for his ruthlessness.

    He kept out of the public eye and was rarely photographed. In 1997, he checked into a Mexican hospital under a false name to have plastic surgery to alter his appearance and evade capture.

    He died as a result of the botched operation, which included liposuction.

    The authorities released gruesome photos of his body to counter rumours he was still alive. But the battered state of the body meant he was almost unrecognisable and their release only fuelled the rumours.

    The surgeons who performed the operation were killed some months later. Their bodies, which showed signs of torture, had been stuffed into oil drum and covered in concrete.

    Amado Carrillo Fuentes’ brother, Vicente, allegedly took over leadership of the Juárez cartel after Amado’s death.

    Vicente Carrillo Fuentes was arrested in October 2014 and is awaiting sentencing in a jail in Mexico.

    The two-million-dollar home

    Under the slogan “buy goods to do good”, Indep, the Mexican government body created to return the proceeds of crime to the people, put up the Mexico City home for auction on Sunday.

    There was only one bidder for the luxurious property in the Álvaro Obregón neighborhood and the sum he offered fell short of the $2.17m Indep had hoped to sell it for.

    The house measures 3,500 sq m (38,000 sq ft) and boasts a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a bar, and a wine cellar, as well as extensive gardens.

    Apart from Carrillo Fuentes’ home, there were another 143 lots for sale at the auction held at the presidential palace.

    Among them were more than 70 cars, five planes, five other homes and more than 100 items of jewelry.

    In total, the six-hour-long auction raised more than 111m Mexican pesos ($4.5m; £3.6m) the highest amount an Indep auction has so far fetched, the government body said in a statement.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Sunyani drugs cartel busted

    A swoop by the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police in Sunyani has led to the arrest of four suspected drug barons at their hideouts in the Sunyani municipality.

    They are Abass Musah, alias Jawura, 25; Ernest Adu Yeboah aka Baby Raster, 40; Iddrisu Sarsal aka Cafu or Obuasi, 44, and Emmanuel Ofosu, 22.

    They were arrested on Tuesday dawn upon intelligence gathering by the unit.

    Briefing DAILY GUIDE on the operation, the Bono Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Nana Kwaku Duah, said they carried out the swoop because the activities of drug barons and their agents were promoting violent crimes in the municipality and needed to be flushed out.

    According to him, upon intelligence gathering, Detective Chief Inspector Adams Yahaya led a team to arrest them. He explained that Ernest Adu Yeboah, who claimed to be a farmer, was at Sunyani Area Four when he was arrested.

    A search conducted in his room revealed a black polythene bag containing 155 cement paper wraps and another quantity of dried leaves also in another black polythene both believed to be cannabis. He admitted ownership of the items and was, therefore, arrested.

    The team went ahead to arrest Emmanuel Ofosu in a metal fabrication shop at Sunyani New Town where he sleeps. A search in the shop revealed 43 cement paper wraps suspected to be Indian hemp concealed in a tool box. He also admitted ownership of it but explained they were given to him by Abass Musah on March 23, 2020 to be retailed for him at a popular wee base called Akokra Kojo.

    He led the team to the house of Abass where he was arrested. Abass, who originally told the police he deals in shoes later, admitted giving the exhibits to Emmanuel Ofosu.

    The team proceeded to Penkwasi and arrested Iddrisu Abass. When his room was searched, 91 cement paper wraps containing dried leaves were found. Another black polythene bag which contained a quantity of dried leaves was also found.

    In the same room, three brown cellotaped compressed slabs of dried leaves concealed in a three-in-one sofa with sofa cloth were retrieved.

    The police explained that all these three barons have agents at Akokra Kojo, an underground sewage tunnel in Sunyani, where the illicit drug trade goes on.

    Chief Superintendent Nana Kwaku Duah said they had been charged with possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority contrary to section 2(1) of Narcotic Control Enforcement and Sanction Law, PNDC L 236 and arraigned.

    He appealed to the members of the public in the Bono Region in particular to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of more of such people, promising that their identities would never be revealed by the police.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Paracetamol abuse could cause liver, kidney failures Expert

    A medical doctor with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Gbenga Adebusoye, has warned that abuse of paracetamol in general and in tenderising meat in particular, could lead to liver and kidney failures.

    Dr Adebusoye gave the warning in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday. He said drugs were chemicals and should not be taken lightly and when abused, they could be toxic to the human system and could endanger lives.

    According to him, the abuse of paracetamol leads to rapid damage of the liver, which can cause acute liver injury that could result in liver failure that can not be managed except by a liver transplant.

    The medical expert said that paracetamol should not be used to tenderise meat and for any other purpose, asides its clinical use and the specified dosage as its abuse was highly detrimental to health. He said that drugs were usually meant to be stored in places with cool temperatures not above 25 degrees Celsius.

    He said if drugs were not properly stored and left in places with high temperature, the act could damage the content of the drugs, making it less potent.

    And with the possibility of chemical reactions that could be dangerous and harmful, turning the drug from a useful substance to a harmful one, he said.

    Dr Adebusoye, therefore, advised people to desist from the abuse of drugs in general as such act could be very fatal.

    NAN reports that some food vendors and caterers in the country have been understood to be using paracetamol tablets to tenderise tough meat.

    Others even use tablespoons, nails and potassium to cook food.

    Some food vendors in Jos denied making use of paracetamol in tenderising their meats, but some admitted to using potassium in tenderising cowhide (Pomo) and beans.

    Source: vanguardngr.com

  • Felicite Tomlinson: Drug use killed One Direction star’s sister

    An aspiring fashion designer died accidentally from a fatal combination of drugs, a coroner has concluded.

    Felicite Tomlinson, 18, the sister of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, was found unresponsive by a friend in her west London flat on 13 March.

    Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard the pair had taken cocaine the night before, while traces of Xanax and OxyContin were also in her system.

    Coroner Shirley Radcliffe described the combination as “the perfect storm”.

    Miss Tomlinson, known to her friends as Fizzy, was an aspiring fashion designer who had 1.3 million followers on Instagram.

    Read:Western North youth urged to stay away from drugs

    The inquest heard she had a history of “recreational drug use over the years” but this had been on a more “consistent basis” since the death of her mother Johannah in 2016.

    The night before she died, the 18-year-old purchased cocaine with her friend Zainab Mohammed and, along with a male friend, took a number of lines.

    Recounting Miss Mohammed’s version of events, Dr Radcliffe said Miss Tomlinson was still breathing at 05:00 BST the next morning, but when her friend woke later at about midday she “couldn’t hear breathing” from the bed next to her.

    The inquest was told Miss Tomlinson was persuaded to complete a successful stint at an Egyptian rehab facility in Autumn 2018, but relapsed in 2019.

    Read:Kenya sniffer dogs fail to detect drugs

    In a statement, her GP Dr Paul Eulinger said the 18-year-old “refused to give up drugs in the knowledge they could kill her”.

    Concluding the teenager’s death was a result of misadventure and drugs toxicity, Dr Radcliffe described her as “a bright, much-loved daughter and sister” whose “use of drugs was a considerable danger to her”.

    “She was an individual who took drugs deliberately and has succumbed to their… effects accidentally.”

    Source: bbc.com