General News of Tuesday, 4 January 2000

Source: Reuters

Ghana customs seizes $6.6 mln of narcotics

ACCRA, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Customs officials in Ghana have seized 4,924 grams (11 pounds) of narcotics with a street value of $6.6 million over the past three weeks, Annie Anipa, assistant commissioner of the customs service, said on Tuesday.

Nine people -- five Nigerians, three Malians and one Ghanaian -- were arrested at Accra's Kotoka International Airport (KIA) between December 13 and January 2 in possession of the drugs, mainly heroin, with small quantities of cocaine and marijuana.

``Most of them have swallowed various quantities of heroin in plastic capsules, but the three Malian women concealed their drugs in their genitals and sandals,'' Anipa told reporters.

Most of the traffickers, who will face trial soon, arrived at KIA on flights from Karachi or Bombay, she said.