Police recover 37 suspected cannabis parcels in Tema operation

Police have arrested a 52-year-old man after recovering 37 parcels of suspected cannabis during an operation at New York, near Airport Junction, the Tema Regional Police Command has said.

The suspect, Ibrahim Saani, was taken to a police station after officers retrieved a bag containing the compressed substances and a crusher, according to a statement issued on October 27.

The substances will undergo forensic examination to establish their nature. Police suspect they are cannabis, also described in the statement as Indian hemp, but no test results have been announced.

The operation took place at about 7pm on Sunday, October 25, following intelligence received by police.

In the statement, signed by the command’s Head of Public Affairs, ASP Dede Dzakpasu, police said preliminary investigations suggested Saani may have been involved in distributing suspected narcotic substances in New York and surrounding communities.

Officers are also investigating whether other people were involved.

“The substances will be forwarded for forensic examination to establish their nature and assist further investigations into the possible involvement of other persons,” the statement said.

Police further alleged that Saani had pretended to be mentally unwell to conceal his suspected activities. The statement provided no supporting details for that allegation.

The command said the suspect, alongside any other people found to be involved, would be brought before a court once investigations were completed.

Police urged members of the public with credible information about suspected drug possession, distribution or trafficking to report it to the nearest police station.

Read the full statement from the police below: