A 21-year old drug peddler caught with 156 wraps of cannabis weighing 435 grammes has appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court for dealing in drugs.

Martin Adongo alias “Kallyx” pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Police Chief Inspector Isaac Mensah Appenteng told the court presided over by Justice William Boampong that, officers from the Police Drug Law Enforcement Unit and the Narcotic Control Board mounted a joint operation to clamp down on illicit drug users and peddlers in Kumasi on March 3, 2011.

At Anloga-Sobolo, the team came across some young men including the convict, who had in their possession a quantity of cannabis but they all managed to escape but one Mohammed Shaibu was arrested.

He had in his possession a polythene bag containing the 156 wraps of the drug.

The prosecution said on April 1, 2011, at about 1230 hours, while the police was investigating the case, Adongo went to the relatives of Shaibu to claim ownership of the stuff.

He additionally offered to provide financial assistance to secure the release of Shaibu. He was then arrested and handed over to the police.

In his caution statement he mentioned one “Oldman” as the source of his supply but could not lead the police to arrest him.

The substance was confirmed as cannabis after a test carried out at the Forensic Laboratory. **