The 59 bags of substances, which were allegedly meant for export to Nigeria were seized at two separate beaches in the Ningo Prampram district.
Briefing journalists on Monday, the Tema Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, said the police patrol team at about 7 p.m. on January 22, 2016, had information that some young men were carting sacks of Indian hemp into a canoe at the Ayetepanya Beach near Old Ningo.
The team, she said then proceeded to the beach area and met the suspects, who were about 50, briskly loading sacks full of wrapped substances into a waiting canoe.
Some of the young men however jumped into the sea upon seeing the police, ASP Juliana Obeng added.
The police managed to seize the Toyota vehicle, with registration number BB 0267-RB, which was left behind without the ignition key.
The said vehicle, ASP Obeng added, was found to be loaded with the 13 sacks of the substance, in addition to vehicle documents bearing the name of Bodjou Ambroise, a Benin national.
On the second case, ASP Juliana Obeng said about 10 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016, the police received information that some people were loading a canoe at the Djange Beach with goods suspected to be Indian hemp which were suspectedly meant to be transported to Nigeria.
A team of policemen were therefore dispatched to the scene where some young men numbering about 20 were spotted busily loading the canoe with sacks full of a substance believed to be Indian hemp, she added.
The young men however managed to escape leaving behind the canoe and its contents.
The police found other items at the scene and these included mobile phones, one Yamaha outboard motor, two jerry cans of premix fuel, sacks of charcoal and a coal pot.
Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man, Joseph Nartey, was arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe the policemen at the scene with GHc2,630.
Police have subsequently launched investigations into the incident.
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