Man arrested in Ashaiman over 18 slabs of suspected Indian Hemp

Police in Ashaiman, near Accra, have arrested Francis Alidu for allegedly taking delivery of 18 compressed slabs of suspected Indian hemp concealed in sacks of cassava.

The arrest, confirmed by the Ashaiman District Police Command on Tuesday, followed a coordinated intelligence operation between officers in Ho and Ashaiman.

According to a police brief, officers in Ho alerted their counterparts in Ashaiman on October 31, 2025, around 9:10 p.m., after intercepting a bus driver suspected of transporting narcotics and identifying Alidu as the intended receiver.

Police later tracked Alidu and arrested him near the KFC outlet at Ashaiman, where he was allegedly waiting to collect the consignment.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly received a phone call from another driver informing him that a sack of cassava had been dropped off for him at the same location.

Officers immediately moved to the scene, retrieved the sack, and brought it to the station. A search in the presence of the suspect revealed 18 compressed slabs of substances believed to be Indian hemp, concealed among tubers of cassava.

Police say Alidu will be charged with unlawful possession or control of narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 37(1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).

The case adds to a series of recent arrests highlighting the increasing use of agricultural produce as cover for drug trafficking across Ghana’s transport corridors.