By Daniel Donkor
The Bono Regional Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 66-year-old woman and her 29-year-old son over the alleged possession of suspected narcotic and restricted drugs at Kumi Daa Street (KDS), a suburb of Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region.
The suspects, identified as Mary Awuni, 66, and Maxwell Akukah, 29, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation aimed at clamping down on the trafficking and possession of narcotic substances in the region.
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, the Police searched the suspects’ rooms and recovered 147 yellow compressed slabs suspected to be Indian hemp, 270 boxes and 329 blisters of assorted Tramadol, 14 blisters of Rohypnol, as well as cash in Ghanaian and CFA francs.
The Police also recovered GH¢87,751 and CFA 2,000 during the operation.
Mary Awuni was allegedly found with a metal trunk containing the 14 blisters of Rohypnol, GH¢72,612 and CFA 2,000.
The Police said Awuni told investigators that the drugs and money had been given to her by a man in Accra for onward delivery to another person in Côte d’Ivoire.
She, however, admitted ownership of the items found in her room, according to the Police.
Her son, Maxwell Akukah, was arrested in a separate room where the Police allegedly found the 147 parcels of suspected Indian hemp, assorted Tramadol and GH¢15,139.
Akukah reportedly denied ownership of the items and told investigators that they belonged to his brother, Anthony, who was outside Dormaa Ahenkro at the time of the operation.
The Police said the arrests and seizure formed part of intensified efforts to disrupt the trafficking and distribution of narcotic and restricted substances in communities across the region.
The two suspects are currently in Police custody assisting with investigations as authorities work to establish the source and intended destination of the suspected drugs and determine the circumstances surrounding their possession.
The Bono Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Command has also appealed to residents to provide credible and timely information on suspected narcotics-related activities in their communities.
It said public cooperation was critical to efforts to combat drug-related offences and protect communities across the region.
