The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) has dismissed claims that it failed to act on intelligence relating to the smuggling of drugs.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, has accused NACOB officials at the Kotoka International Airport of being complacent.

He alleged NACOB officials claim their sniffer dogs were tired and could not screen some vehicles being sent out of the country by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former president Mahama.

However, in a statement, the anti-drug trafficking agency said the dogs did a thorough job at the airport.

Below is NACOB’s full statement:

NACOB’S SNIFFER DOGS DID WORK AT SWISSPORT
On Monday, February 26, and Wednesday, February 28, 2018, Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) was called upon to assist in a search operation at Swissport at the Kotoka International Airport.

In both instances, NACOB consequently deployed four (4) narcotic detective dogs; namely IRIS, CORA, VIKA and KEA, with their technical handlers from the Canine Unit of NACOB to conduct the search operation.

The Canine Team on Monday, February 26, arrived at the Swissport at 8:39 a.m. for the exercise. Two (2) vehicles, a Nissan GT and a Mercedes Benz AMG, were the objects of interest. The search team had to wait for some time for the vehicles to be driven from their location to the scene of the examination.

NACOB’s Canine Team at 11:42 a.m. made the two (2) vehicles available for search. The vehicles, on arrival at the examination scene, had to cool down for some few minutes before the security agencies took turns to conduct their examination.

NACOB was the first to conduct its search, followed by BNI and the National Security. Present at the scene for the examination, apart from the security agencies, was the clearing agent for the consignment.

The four (4) narcotic detective dogs, IRIS, CORA, VIKA and KEA, were deployed for the search one at a time, till all four (4) had taken turns for the exercise. The detective dogs diligently searched all the two (2) vehicles, but found no illicit narcotic substance.

At the end of the entire search operation, the search parties were debriefed and dismissed accordingly.

For the search operation on Wednesday, February 28, three (3) vehicles were the objects of interest: a Brabus AMG 850, a Bentley Mulsanne and a Brabus Mercedes AMG.

NACOB’s detective dogs, IRIS, CORA, VIKA and KEA arrived at the Swissport at 11:00 a.m. for the search operation. The three (3) vehicles were opened for examination few minutes upon the arrival of the Canine Team.

NACOB was the first to conduct its search, followed by BNI and National Security. The clearing agent was again present for the examination.

The four (4) narcotic detective dogs were again deployed for the search one at a time, till all four (4) had taken turns for the exercise. Each dog diligently searched all the three (3) vehicles but found no illicit narcotic substance. At the end of the entire search operation, the search parties were debriefed and dismissed accordingly.

NACOB wish to assure the general public of its unflinching preparedness in executing its mandate in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse. The general public is therefore encouraged to support NACOB in this endeavour, as the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse is a shared responsibility. Thank you.