The Techiman Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Michael Cudjoe Ntumy, has remanded into police custody, three suspected “wee” peddlers, to re-appear on April 18, this year.
The suspects, whose plea were not taken at the court, were Kyeremeh Harrison, 27, a driver, Stephen Okrah, 17, welding apprentice and Adisah Bashiru, 22, hairdresser apprentice, all based in Kumasi.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector John Amponsah told the court that, on April 2, this year, the three suspects were arrested at Tanoso in the Techiman Municipality for possessing quantities of dried leaves, wrapped in 23 black polythene bags, in various sizes and suspected to be “Indian Hemp”.
Chief Inspector Amponsah said the three suspects, in an Opel Astra taxi-cab, with registration Number GT6715 Y, were signaled to stop by the a Police patrol team but they ignored the police and sped off.
The patrol team chased the suspects, who later abandoned the taxi-cab at Tanoso and fled into the bush, he said.
C/Inspector Amponsah said some people in Tanoso quickly organised a search party and found the suspects at their hide-out and were arrested and handed over to the police.
He told the court a search of Adisah’s traveling bag revealed a quantity of the dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
A further search on the vehicle also revealed some bags containing dried leaves stashed behind the rear seat and in the booth, C/Inspector Amponsah added.
The three suspects, who denied knowledge of the items, in their cautioned statement, are facing the charge of possessing narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 2 (1) of PNDC Law 236/90.
Meanwhile, the suspected dried leaves have been sent to the Police forensic laboratory for testing.