The suspect, Ivy Mugure Daniel was arrested on January 9, 2018 at the Airport whilst undergoing arrival formalities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”625BxNTAnemHdz6Pc67aXQupfzH8KqdJ”]This comes after the Board announced last week that a Tanzanian food vendor had been handed a five-year jail term after she was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport for possessing 2.3kg of speedball, a mixture of cocaine and heroin with a street value of $70,000.00.

According to NACOB officers detailed at Kotoka, Ms. Daniel arrived at the airport on board Ethiopian Airline flight ET 921.

She was however accosted by officers who asked for her check-in luggage and following a search, a big parcel wrapped with a black polythene material containing an off-white powdery substance weighing 3kg was discovered.

A test conducted by the Ghana Standards Authority on the substance proved positive for “speedball”, with an estimated street value of $ 90,000.00.

The suspect, who admitted attempting to smuggle the package into the country but denied knowledge of its contents.

She claimed ownership of the luggage but explained that one Benson, her boyfriend in Kenya, bought her ticket and gave her the traveling bag to pack her things and meet him in Ghana with the bag.

A statement issued by NACOB on the matter said Ivy Mugure Daniel “has subsequently been arraigned before court and placed in prison custody pending trial.”

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kenyan woman busted with cocaine at Kotoka appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The drugs were found on a boat between Portugal’s Madeira and Azores islands.

Officials found 165 individual packages of cocaine weighing 23kg – a total of 3.7 tonnes – concealed beneath the vessel’s cooking area.
It is not clear where the drugs were being taken to.

The Comoros-flagged vessel was towed into the Spanish port of Cádiz on Friday after Spanish officials received intelligence from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The crew, from Turkey and Azerbaijan, were arrested.

The operation was jointly conducted by Spanish customs and police and the NCA under the overall co-ordination of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon.

“Seizing this quantity of cocaine represents a major disruption to international crime groups, depriving them of revenue potentially running into the hundreds of millions of pounds,” NCA spokesman Mark Blackwell said.

There have been two other big Atlantic drug busts in recent months.

Thirteen Spanish citizens of Moroccan origin were arrested on Monday over what is believed to be a record seizure of cocaine in the North African country, officials there said.

Police were reported to have seized more than 2.5 tonnes of the drug, with a street value of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The cocaine was thought to have come from Venezuela on its way to Europe or the United Arab Emirates.

Morocco’s investigations chief Abdelhak Khiam said South American drug cartels were using smuggling routes through sub-Saharan countries where he said there was “little control”.

The Portuguese navy and air force is also reported to have carried out a drugs seizure on Thursday after intercepting a yacht suspected of transporting cocaine to the country from the Caribbean.

The vessel was stopped about 965km (600 miles) south of the Azores, Portugal News Online reported, and was carrying a large amount of “highly pure” cocaine believed to be worth about $23.5m (£18m).

–

Source: BBC

The post Huge cocaine haul seized in tugboat in Atlantic appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Sector Commander of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), at the Tema Port, Confidence Nyadzi, had earlier dismissed claims that 500 kilogrammes of cocaine worth about $30 million dollars had disappeared from the Port.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9rqGaymgqH5izSSRd7WM2lWQrgjucb6R”]This was after the Finder reported that 10 bags of cocaine, hidden in a consignment of rice with an estimated street value of about $30million, had vanished from the Port under mysterious circumstances.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Darko stood by his claims, insisting CEPS’ call for investigations into the development seems to suggest that some containers at the Port contained cocaine.

“For the Custom Man to say ‘nothing has happened’ and to say in the next moment that ‘they are conducting investigations’ is questionable. If the custom officer’s interview in one breadth said ‘we have done investigations into the matter’, and in another breadth says that ‘nothing has happened’, that is worrying.”

“You cannot say you have done investigations into an issue, and other institutions have done investigations and the next breadth you say nothing of that sort has happened so I am saying that if there are lapses, let’s look at where the lapses happened.”

He believes CEPs is denying claims that cocaine was discovered at the Port because “it is unwilling to admit that the cocaine went missing under their watch.”

Finder report on ‘missing’ cocaine

According to the Finder newspaper, a ship carrying some containers with cocaine on-board arrived at the Tema Port in December 2016, but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23, 2017, when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container.

The report stated that, K9 Dogs, which are specially trained to detect cocaine, confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container, while UK’s Operation West Bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traces of cocaine.

The newspaper also said separate investigations it conducted on the suspected missing cocaine by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Customs, have been submitted to the Interior Minister and the Attorney General’s offices.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Cocaine went missing at Tema Port – Finder Editor insists appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Finder Newspaper on Friday reported that, 500 kilograms of cocaine worth about $30 million dollars had disappeared from the Port under mysterious circumstances.

But the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tema Port, Juana Adda, told Citi News that they were only told by the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) that the containers were carrying rice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zqCLNnSDCjzwQOOdA5LR6BShxzuymWVp”]“Yes indeed, the said containers were delivered to Depot 10 last year around November/December 2016, the joint Port control unit wrote to [Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority] GPHA, requesting the authority to prompt them when the said containers were due to be sent to the Golden Jubilee. In other words, the said containers should not move out of the terminal without their knowledge.”

“The unit further requested that, the said boxes would have to go through scanning before they are conveyed to the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJP). The letter to GPHA did not state the reason for that directive. The letter did not indicate that cocaine was concealed in one of the containers,” she told Citi News on Friday.

The PRO explained that, the importer of the rice in February 2017, wrote a letter to the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) requesting to send samples to the lab for testing which she said was approved by CEPS.

“Following Customs approval, GPHA moved one of the containers to the state warehouse,” she added.

When asked whether Tema Port alerted the Joint Control Team about the development, Madam Adda explained that “Customs [CEPS] is part of the Joint Control Unit and whatever sampling would be done, NACOB is a member of the committee so if it has to do with sampling all of them would be part.”

“I believe that when they asked us to move the container, we complied with their directive. It was the duty of CEPS to also inform other members of the team that indeed this was happening. NACOB and Customs under these circumstances would have worked together,” she noted.

Why wasn’t there 24-hour surveillance?

She further blamed NACOB for the missing cocaine if indeed there was any, since according to her, the board could have mounted a 24-hour surveillance on the containers.

“If NACOB knew that cocaine has been concealed in one of the containers, the onus was on them to have taken over and mounted a 24-hour surveillance until such time that the importer was ready to clear. Maybe they could have hinted us that there was cocaine in this container and that is why we are doing this,” she said.

No cocaine missing – CEPS Tema Port commander

Meanwhile, the Sector Commander of CEPS, of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), at the Tema Port, Confidence Nyadzi, has also dismissed claims that some cocaine had disappeared from the Port.

According to him, thorough investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Ministry of Interior and other sector institutions, revealed that no container with cocaine had been detained at the Port.

“I can tell you that there is no truth in that reportage. I know that this matter has been dealt with at the office of the Minister of Interior and at that meeting was the commissioner of customs, the ex-commissioner, Mr. John Vianney, myself, NACOB and the relevant stakeholders. We looked at all the issues involved, as to whether there was a cocaine missing or not, I don’t think anybody can tell you that. And I’m telling you that the report is misleading. There was no cocaine in Tema Port in anybody’s custody which got missing,” Mr Nyadzi insisted.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post We didn’t know about any cocaine  – Tema Port management appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, thorough investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Ministry of Interior and other sector institutions, revealed that no container with cocaine had been detained at the Port.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FdavEyM0ribiUzfZALknvLEDs1XKtKAP”]This is contrary to The Finder newspaper’s report suggesting that 10 bags of cocaine, hidden in a consignment of rice with an estimated street value of about $30million, has vanished from the Tema Port under mysterious circumstances.

The said container was detained on December 2016, but speaking to Citi News’ Franklin Badu Jnr, Mr Nyadzi insisted that, the report cannot be true.

“I can tell you that there is no truth in that reportage. I know that this matter has been dealt with at the office of the Minister of Interior and at that meeting was the commissioner of customs, the ex-commissioner, Mr. John Vianney, myself, NACOB and the relevant stakeholders. We looked at all the issues involved, as to whether there was a cocaine missing or not, I don’t think anybody can tell you that. And I’m telling you that the report is misleading. There was no cocaine in Tema Port in anybody’s custody which got missing.”

“We have done investigation, BNI has done investigation, NACOB is doing investigation. It is expected that we will know what exactly the story is; whether there is cocaine at all or not. On authority, I can tell you that I’m not aware of any cocaine shipment. I’m the head of Customs at Tema Port and I’m not aware of cocaine shipment. I am telling you categorically that I am not aware of any missing cocaine at Tema Port. If somebody says so perhaps he has some facts I don’t have,” he added.

Finder report on ‘missing’ cocaine

According to the Finder newspaper, a ship carrying some containers with cocaine onboard arrived in Tema Pot in December 2016, but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23, 2017, when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container.

The report stated that, K9 Dogs which are specially trained to detect cocaine, confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container, while UK’s Operation West Bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traces of cocaine.

The newspaper also said separate investigations it conducted on the suspected missing cocaine by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Customs, have been submitted to the Interior Minister and the Attorney General’s offices.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post No cocaine missing – CEPS Tema Port commander appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Finder can report that 10 bags of suspected cocaine, each weighing 50kgs (500kgs in all) hidden in a consignment of rice with an estimated street value of about $30 million has vanished from the Tema Port under mysterious circumstances.

Surprisingly officers under whose watch this happened are still at post at the Tema Port.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yDRjr6LV02pQsHJIMxPMZxhzLbaht1sy”]According to Finder’s sources, a ship carrying some containers with cocaine onboard arrived in Tema Pot in December 2016 but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23 2017 when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container.

It is learnt that K9 Dogs which are specially trained to detect cocaine confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container while UK’s Operation West Bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traces of cocaine.

The Finder further learnt that separate investigations conducted on the suspected missing cocaine by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Customs have been submitted to the Interior Minister and the Attorney General’s offices.

Five Containers for Scanning
The Investigations indicated that when the ship arrived, the identification of containers selected for sampling were:

FSCU-7559200

IRNU-2610834

CCLU-3224764

TRHU-1653800

TRLU-8778855

All these were 20-footer containers and each contained 550 bags of white long grain rice according to the bill of lading.

According to the sources, the containers were kept at Depot Surveillance.

UNODC/Suriname Provided Intelligence
On October 24, 2016, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with Suriname authorities alerted the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) of a ship from Suriname in South America carrying the said cocaine in Tema Port in Ghana.

NACOB Boss Alerted Tema Port Narcotics Analyst

Sources familiar with the matter told the Finder that on the said day, NACOB head office, informed Felicia Wuaku, a Narcotics Analyst who is the head of the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) at Tema Port and all stakeholders were informed accordingly.

Tema Port Narcotics Analyst Informs Other Stakeholders

Sources at NACOB said on December 7 2016, Felicia Wuaku wrote letters to other stakeholders but Customs received their letters on December 8 2016.

According to the investigations, for over two months, the importer did not show up to clear the rice.

As a result, the Finder learnt that NACOB, in the first week of February, fixed February 25, 2017 to undertake compulsory scanning of the container and inform all stakeholders.

However, NACOB sources said on February 22, 2017, intelligence indicated that one of the containers with identification number TRHU-1653800 was moved to Golden Jubilee Terminal without the knowledge of NACOB.

Subsequently, NACOB quickly called all stakeholders on February 23, 2017 for compulsory examination of the container which was believed to contain the cocaine.

Agencies Present At Scanning

Agencies present during the opening of the container for testing are: NACOB, K9 Unit (Special Dogs Academy), UK’s Operation WestBridge Officials, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Security, US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

A Joint Port Control Unit was represented by Felicia Wuaku, Francis Worlanyo Kpegah and Henry Asarfo Brain.

When the container was opened, it was realised that 10 bags, each weighing 50kgs were missing from the consignment – in other words, 500kgs suspected to be the pure cocaine had been removed by persons yet to be identified.

K9 Dogs, itemisers confirmed traces of pure cocaine.

However, when sampling was conducted on the rice, K9 Security Dogs and sampling by the use of itemisers of Operation West Bridge team both confirmed traces of pure cocaine.

Questions for JPCU
According to the Finder’s investigations, questions are being asked as to why the head of JPCU, Felicia Wuaku, instead of detailing a surveillance team to keep the containers in sight 24hours, left that duty to GPHA Head of Security while a two-member NACOB Surveillance Team only visited Depot 10 intermittently to ensure that the containers were there.

NACOB blames Customs
NACOB sources said their investigations revealed that GPHA and Customs officials moved the container to Golden Jubilee Terminal on request from the importer to have the rice tested without informing NACOB.

Customs Debunks Allegation
However, Confidence Nyadzie, Tema Sector Commander of Customs, described the accusations levelled against Customs as baseless.

Response of Operations West Bridge
When contacted, the UK High Commission on behalf of Operation West Bridge sent this email response: “The UK Government represented by the British High Commission has a long and fruitful relation with Ghanaian law enforcement agencies. We are unable to comment on specific cases.”

Information on Importer
On the bill of lading, Joro Farms and Agricultural Processing Limited, located at Kaneshie in Accra is named as the importer of the rice from Caribbean Grain Industry in Suriname.

The Finder contacted the importer who declined to give his name but denied knowledge of cocaine hidden in his consignment of rice but admitted that NACOB had been questioned over the said missing cocaine.

A Case of Rip Off
However, sources in the intelligence community told the Finder that the cocaine could be a case of rip off which in drug law enforcement means smart drug lords outsmarting importers and exporters by putting drugs in consignments but removing them before examination in circumstances where the importer or exporter has no knowledge.

The Work Of A Cabal In Tema Port
The sources also added that it could be a case of a cabal at Tema Port which took advantage of loopholes in security arrangements by JPCU or possibly some JPCU members could have been involved in the smuggling of the cocaine out of the Port.

–

Source: The Finder

The post Cocaine worth $30 million ‘vanishes’ at Tema Port appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The shipment, weighing 1,417kg, was reportedly heading to Belgium, before it was intercepted by the anti-drug police force in Lima.

Each parcel of the class A drug contained the Argentinian forward’s face, his name and a counterfeited version of his personal branding – a stylised ‘M’ logo that he has been using on social media for several years.

Criminals often package drugs up to look like popular brands, in order to make it less likely that anyone will inspect the parcels while they are transported.

According to reports, several hundred packages were also found bearing a knock-off of the official seal of the king of Spain Felipe VI.

This is not the first time that 29-year-old footballing superstar has had his identity fraudulently used by smugglers trying to peddle their wears, with crooks found to be selling a drug under the street name ‘Messi’ in 2015.

The Barcelona star’s legitimate endorsements are worth an estimated £20 million a year.

–

Source: Mirror

The post Messi-branded cocaine with street value of £73 million seized in Peru appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, who set Thursday, March 16, 2017,  for the judgment after deferring during the last sitting, failed to deliver the judgement because of some inconsistencies she claimed to have found in the court records which needed clarification.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jC1Mt6RGSRqG1cm1LJcGu0CNyy5VizYU”]Justice Adjei Addo took over the case after the dismissal of Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, who was originally hearing the suit as a result of his involvement in the Anas judicial corruption scandal.

The case involving DSP Tehoda began on September 27, 2011, when one Nana Ama Martins was arrested for possessing large parcels suspected to be cocaine, which later turned into bicarbonate or baking soda.

DSP Tehoda was linked to the disappearance of the cocaine and was interdicted and subsequently dismissed from the Service.

She was then the Deputy Commander in charge of the Commercial Crimes Unit.

Three years after her acquittal, the Police Service failed to reinstate her, forcing her to go to the Human Rights High Court to seek redress for what she described as wrongful dismissal by the Ghana Police Service.

The case has been adjourned to the 31st of March 2017, where judgment is expected to be given.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Judgement on DSP Tehoda case adjourned again to March 31 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The court presided over by Justice Gifty Adjei Addo set the date after it granted an application adopting proceedings during the time of dismissed high court Judge, Justice Kofi Essel Mensah.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oeQeYtlLJoz5UFPXLCXQS5S4dPoSZ6kP”]The adoption subsequently paved way for the court to deliver its judgement.

Both parties in the suit had completed their sides of the case before the previous judge Kofi Essel Mensah, was dismissed as a result of his involvement in the Anas judicial corruption scandal documentary.

The case involving DSP Tehoda began on September 27, 2011, when one Nana Ama Martins was arrested for possessing large parcels suspected to be cocaine which later turned into bicarbonate or baking soda.

DSP Tehoda was linked to the disappearance of the cocaine, and was interdicted and subsequently dismissed from the  Service.

She was then the Deputy Commander in charge of the Commercial Crimes Unit. Tehoda has sued the Ghana Police Service for wrongful dismissal, and is praying the court among other things, to compel the Service to reinstate her.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cocaine turned baking soda; judgement on DSP Tehoda set for March 16 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Prisons, ASP. Johann Nii Narh Nartey, said the suspect believed to be a member of a notorious drug syndicate terrorizing residents in the area, was arrested on Monday at the Sunyani Central Prison with the substance.

He explained that Sakina was apprehended at the Sunyani Prison Barracks after she paid a visit to a prisoner in custody, Taufik Mohammed, who is serving a ten (10) year jail term with hard labour for narcotic drug offences.

He added that the initial demeanour of both convict and visitor appeared normal at the initial stages of the visit, but the interaction aroused suspicion at the latter stage and so both of them were put under strict surveillance.

ASP Nartey continued that, Sakina was later seen hanging around at the barracks in anxiety after the visit, and was subsequently invited into the prison where a search was conducted on her, and Ninety nine (99) pieces of substances suspected to be cocaine wrapped in cigarette foil were found in her purse.

“Upon interrogation, she disclosed that the parcel was given to her by a friend of the prisoner whom she claimed she did not know previously, and who had earlier on called her on phone upon request from the convict to meet her at an arranged location to collect a parcel meant for the inmate. She also stated that, she has no previous knowledge of the content of the parcel she was carrying” ASP. Johann Nii Narh Nartey.

According to him, when she was pressed further to disclose how the parcel was going to be delivered to the prisoner, Sakina said that an intermediary, who would ensure that the items get to the inmate safely in the prison would meet her at the prisons barracks to take delivery of the “goods”.

She however declined to mention the names of the intermediary as well as the supposed source of the parcel and the caller claiming that she does not know them.

The PRO disclosed the mobile number on which she communicated with her accomplices has however gone dead, and could not be reached when called several times.

He has however assured the issue will be investigated to its logical conclusion as the suspect has since been handed over to the Sunyani Divisional Police for further investigations.

The Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Supt. Sampson Bandin confirmed the arrest and stated that his outfit has commenced investigation into the matter, and the suspect will be put before court soon.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Woman arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine to prisoner appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.