7 Suspected Narcotics Trucks Released … on the orders of Ho courts

The seven trucks which were impounded in connection with the conveyance of suspected narcotics in Ho have been duly released.

The Chronicle’s independent investigation reveals that the release of these trucks was as a result of orders from the Circuit Court in the Volta Regional capital, Ho.

A number of persons suspected to have link to some of the cases are already before the courts in Ho and Accra respectively.

Sometime last week, the social media was awash with reports of alleged missing narcotics exhibits in the custody of the Volta Regional Police Command.

That, the trucks impounded for conveying the suspected cannabis have been arbitrary released by the police to their owners at the blind side of the courts.

Also, that the Regional Police Command deliberately transferred the detectives handling the cases in order to frustrate prosecution.

The Chronicle can, however, report that Circuit and District Courts in Ho, between July and December 2023, ordered the release of the impounded trucks to their respective owners.

On July 3, 2023 the Circuit Court Registrar, Mr David Deku, wrote to the Police, ordering the release of Hyundai 5Ton truck, with registration number GS 8371-22 to Richard Atsu, the applicant.

On the same day, the Registrar per another correspondence ordered Police to release DAF CF 85.340 container truck with registration number GN 7448-22 to Winfred Kofi Atisu, the applicant.

On July 11, 2023 the Circuit Court wrote to the Regional Police Commander for the release of INTERNATIONAL 4300 with registration GN 3729-22 to the applicant, Ayivor Daniel.

On September 23, 2023 similar action from same source of judicial administration was directed to the police to release SAIC-IVECO HONGYAN KINGKAN 6.4 tipper truck with registration number GG 2373-23 to Elizabeth Mavis Yawa Niboe, the applicant.

On December 21, 2023 the Circuit Court in a letter ordered the Regional Police boss to release Mercedes Benz truck, registration number GT8487-23, in the custody of the police to the applicant, Winfred Atisu.

Same day, December 21, 2023 the District Court in Ho, with Mr Gabriel Monyo as Registrar, ordered the release of KIA RHINO truck with registration number GW2570-18, impounded by Keta Divisional Police Command to Egyir Amokwandoh.

A senior police source at the National Headquarters in Accra, who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Chronicle that, in most of the cases, the human escorts accompanying the transportation of these illicit drugs abscond and leave behind their trucks when they realise that the police are closing in on them.

He explained that the cases of these seven trucks were no exception. That the police have to recover the trucks and took custody of the suspected narcotics.

The deep throat source continued that, the suspected marijuana are presently stacked in filled to the brim exhibit  rooms located at the Regional Police Command as administrative processes  are underway for the Attorney General’s Office to advise as to the next line of action.

On the alleged  transfers of detectives on the case, the respectable source stated that it was nationwide transfers carried out by  the National Headquarters.

That, on March 20, 2023, at exactly 1339 hours GMT, the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) dispatched through Police Wireless Message to the Regional Commanders for the transfers of 65 detectives across the country to take immediate effect.

Two Detective Inspectors at the Regional CID in Ho were affected by the transfers and sent to Bekwai in the Ashanti and Bolgatanga in the Upper East Regions respectively.

The Inspector reported at Bolgatanga according to a Station Diary report, on March 29, 2023 on what is termed in police parlance as ‘portmanteau transfer’ (with only a luggage).

The authorities in charge of police accommodation in the region reportedly made every effort to secure him one, but to no avail.

A police extract of occurrence was prepared and handed to him to be taken back to Ho for further action.

Prior to his departure, the quartermaster in Bolgatanga assured to contact him if accommodation was available.

Back in Ho, he was not assigned any docket to work on with the reason that, his Duplicate Records of Service (DRS) already accompanied him  to Bolgatanga and as such ceases to be a staff of the Regional CID in Ho.

On July 4, 2023, Chief Superintendent of Crime, Upper East Region, relayed a wireless message to the Crime Officer in Volta Region.

In summary the message states that the said Detective Inspector was not at post and when he was reached on phone, he indicated that he was still in Ho attending court.

The message continued that he was wanted to report at post in Bolgatanga, but has still not reported.

As a result, the Regional Command was preparing to take the necessary action against the subject.

The source ended that, where there are no official barracks to accommodate the men and women, the police administration allows personnel to go for their choice of places to stay, which is paid for by the police Administration.

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