Officers of the Medium Security Prisons at Nsawam on Monday intercepted two parcels of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, being trafficked by a woman into the prison.

The suspect, a 23 year-old Nigerian woman, had concealed the substance in her rasta hairdo.

Tawa Buhari, who gave her name as Aisha Mohammed, was at the Nsawam Prisons to visit her cousin, Sadat Mohammed, who is serving a 70-year jail term for robbery.

Assistant Chief Officer Mary Kwarteng found the substance wrapped in black polythene and hidden in the suspect's hairdo during a routine search.

Upon interrogation by the prisons officers, Tawa claimed the substance was given to her three months ago by a Mallam (spiritualist) at Nima, Accra, to put in her hair after she had complained to him about the sleepless nights she was suffering.

"He told me it is a medicine that will protect and help me to sleep very well. I didn't know what he gave me was Indian hemp," she said.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Internal Security Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) J. K. Ofosuhene; said the substance was retrieved from Tawa's hairdo, during their routine search.

"We search all visitors who come here to visit the inmates. This thing has been going on for some time now, where relations of the inmates try to supply them with either Indian hemp or alcohol. We therefore put in place the search routine in order to apprehend such people,” he disclosed

DSP Ofosuhene said to effectively check such activities, the Police and Prisons must work together to enable us get to the source of the drug menace in the various prisons.

The suspect was handed over to the Nsawam Police, together with the exhibits for further investigations.**