Accra, June 16, GNA- As the war on the illicit trade and consumption of narcotics rages in the country, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the weekend intercepted a 20-foot cargo truck fully-laden with substances suspected to be marijuana.

The substance, extremely compressed to the form of notebooks, and packed in over 100 maize bags, were stacked in the truck and barricaded with maize to outwit the security agencies, officials of the CEPS said on Monday. The manner in which the substance was packaged belied the intention of what was being exported. The street value is yet to be determined. Briefing newsmen on the seizure in Accra Mr. Africanus Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Commissioner of CEPS in-charge of Preventive, said the institution was on a collision course with people who were denting the image of the country.

"Customs is now very serious. We are up to the task...and those who intend smuggling should take a cue from this and desist from such acts. Anyone caught dealing in narcotics would face the law," he said. Mr. Owusu-Ansah appealed to government to resource CEPS and all other security agencies to enable them to effectively fight the narcotics menace.

He said, the issue was being investigated thoroughly to unmask those behind the trade.

The owners of the consignment are yet to be known, but two persons, who describe themselves as the "mates" of the driver of the truck who absconded when the vehicle was seized by CEPS personnel at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region, are being held for investigations.

The truck, with registration number GR 7231 Z, which, according to inscriptions on the sides, belongs to one A.K. Asare of House Number 126 A of Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region, is being detained with the substance at the CEPS headquarters in Accra pending investigations. 16 June 08