Five policemen interdicted in connection with a vehicle loaded with large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp near Offuman, in the Brong Ahafo region earlier in the week allegedly collected ?7 million bribe from the suspected drug dealers.

The driver of the vehicle, Cosmos Kwabena Danso, who made the allegation at an identification parade at the Regional Police Command at Sunyani on Friday, said the amount was part payment of 25 million bribe demanded by the policemen.

Danso, who was arrested at Nsawam and sent to Wenchi under police escort, therefore, described as unfounded the statement by the policemen that they demanded a bribe of 7 million and were yet to receive it when they were arrested.

The interdicted offices, however, insist that they never took any money from the drug dealers. The affected officers Simon Wortoyesor (Station Officer), Inspector Frank Hagan, Corporal Thomas Acquah and Constable Twum Dauda, all of the Wenchi Police.

Danso was arraigned before a Sunyani Community Tribunal on Friday on a charge of possessing Indian hemp and was remanded in prison custody to re-appear on December 6. His plea was not taken.

A highly-placed police source said in an interview with the paper that the owner of the Ford vehicle, who also resides at Nsawam, caused the arrest of Danso after the story broke out.