Personnel of NACOB offloading the narcotics for destruction. INSET: Mr. Solomon Stanley Eyo addressing the media and the narcostics being set ablaze
NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES estimated at GH¢500,000 were destroyed by the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) at Bundase Training Camp of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) near Seglime in the Ningo-Pampram District of the Greater Accra Region.
The burning of approximately 400 kilogrammes (kg) of marijuana and 100 kg of khat follows a court order for NACOB to destroy the narcotics intercepted from drug peddlers last year after those cases had been dealt with. Cathinone is the major psychoactive component of the plant Catha edulis (khat). The leaves of khat are chewed for a stimulant effect.
The exercise was done in the presence of officials from the Judiciary, Ghana Police Service (GPS) the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under close supervision by the military.
Officials from the GSA tested the drugs to confirm if they were the actual drugs intercepted, after which they were set ablaze.
Speaking with the media, Solomon Stanley Eyo, Deputy Chief Narcotic Analyst in charge of Divisional Supervision for Supply Reduction said the illegal substances destroyed were seized at various points such as the Kotoka International Airport, the borders, Cargo Village and Ghana Post.
He explained that the drugs were seized last year following an intelligence work carried out for several months which led to the arrest of suspects and the substances.
The Narcotic Analyst said the destruction was also to send signals to the public that the drugs were harmful to the human body and to serve as a deterrent to traffickers and users.
Touching on the seizure of the khat, he stated that “although we don’t produce or plant khat in Ghana like the East African countries such as Ethiopia, some of the traffickers want to use Ghana as a transit point to European countries and the US. This has serious implications on our image as a country; hence we are very vigilant to clamp down on their activities.”
He warned the traffickers that his outfit was in the lookout to arrest them to save citizens and the image of the country.
Formed in 1993 under the Interior Ministry, the Narcotic Control Board is aimed at formulating and enforcing narcotics laws in Ghana and as well as prevent the use, import and export of sedative products including cocaine and marijuana (weed).
With its three main functions supervised by the Interior Ministry, NACOB is responsible for enforcement and controlling of narcotic control laws, education and prevention of use of such products and treatment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of narcotics addicts.
From Vincent Kubi, Bundase