Bawku (U/E), March 20, GNA - A 24-year-old driver's mate, Bashiru Mohammed has been placed in custody by the Bawku Police for attempting to smuggle a packet of cigarette to his friend in Police cells at Bawku on Monday.

Joseph Gullibe, the driver with whom Bashiru works as a mate, had earlier been arrested for allegedly carrying three sack loads of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp on board his 33-seater Benz bus from Kumasi.

Inspector Andrews Yirenkyi, who briefed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bawku, said Bashiru called at the station around 1000 hours to visit Gullibe, who had been placed in custody, and was allowed to do so. He said in the course of their conversation, Bashiru was seen giving a packet of cigarette to Gullibe, but an officer intercepted it and ordered him to leave the station.

The cigarette was then destroyed in the presence of Bashiru. Insp. Yirenkyi said at about 1700 hours, Bashiru came back to the station disguised and sought permission to talk to Gullibe and was permitted.

He explained that Bashiru took advantage of the officers' attention to other clients at the counter and again attempted to smuggle a packet of cigarette to Gullibe but was spotted. This prompted the officers to search him and realised that he was the same person who had called earlier with the same motive but had changed his clothing.

He was subsequently arrested and placed into custody to join his friend in the cells.