The Akuse District Police Command has arrested one Bismark Kofi Boateng, a 26-year-old man for using his vehicle to transport 169 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and bribing the police.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Eastern Region, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yaw Nketia-Yeboah, said on January 12, the Akuse Command had information that an Opel Vectra Salon Car with registration number VR 495-12 was transporting substances from Juapong to Accra.

He said the District Commander, ASP Francis Ackah then placed his men on routes leading to Accra upon which he later had information from the Kpong Police that the said vehicle had passed them with top speed heading towards Accra.

ASP Nketia-Yeboah, said the suspect however abandoned the car at a point when he saw the police chasing him and escaped into the bush, adding that, “When the vehicle was searched at the Kpong Police station, 169 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp were found in the boot.”

He said after impounding the car, Boateng who is also a lotto retailer at Asikuma, made overtures to the Kpong Station Officer, Chief Inspector Matthias Dagba, to give the substances and the car back to him.

Chief Inspector Dagba then briefed his Commander in Akuse who in turn directed the Kpong Police team to feign interest to trap the suspect.

ASP Nketia-Yeboah, said, Boateng later came forward to claim the car and the substances, with his vehicle documents and added GH¢1,000.00 to influence the police.

“He was therefore arrested with the exhibit and brought down to the Regional Police Headquarters for further investigations.

According to the Police PRO, the suspect, at the Regional Command, confessed that he attempted to bribe the police because he assumed they would take the money and release the substances and vehicle to him for the owner in Accra.

He said Boateng had confessed that his syndicate had been helping him to transport the substance to Asikuma-Akrade on the ferry for some Nigerians, for a fee but he could not give identity of his syndicate members to the Police.

ASP Nketia-Yeboah, said the Police had therefore detained Boateng to assist them in investigation while the car with the suspected substances and the GHC1,000.00 were retained.