A driver and his mate have been arrested in the Bono region for transporting over 8,000 compressed bales of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The substance valued at GH¢1,269,000 were packed in 180 sacks with each containing about 47 compressed slabs.

27-year-old Ayuba Ali, the driver and his 20-year-old mate, Ametus Sori who were apprehended on their way to Burkina Faso were transporting the substance from Nsawkaw, the Tain District Capital on board a Rhino Cargo Truck with registration number GR 2474-16.

Briefing the media on the arrest, the Bono Regional Crime Officer, Supt Kwaku Duah, said the Drug Law Enforcement Unit received a tip-off that the truck had loaded bales of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis at Nsawkaw and was heading towards Banda en route Hamile and to Burkina Faso.

Under the leadership of Detective Inspector Adams Yahaya, the unit traced the truck and seized it on the Menji-Banda road near the Bui Dam.

Upon inspection, Supt Duah said the police found the substance compressed in black and brown cello tape and kept in white plastic bags.

The driver of the truck, Ali, confessed he was contracted by a man at Nsawkaw to transport the substance to Hamile then to Burkina Faso for an amount on GH¢7,000.

He said though he didn’t know the man by name, he could identify him when seen.

The police have begun investigations for the arrest of a person who contracted the suspects to transport the substance.

“Efforts are been made to arrest those who contracted them, meanwhile the driver and the mate are been processed for court. We are charging them for unlawful possession of narcotics drugs", Supt Duah stated.