A Hyundai 5-ton truck, suspected to be carrying over 100 sacks of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp, has arrived at the Eastern Regional Police Command in Koforidua under controversial circumstances, with nearly half of its original contents missing.
The vehicle, bearing registration number ER 760-23, was intercepted by a police patrol team on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Following the seizure, the truck was reportedly transported to the regional command under the directive of Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Twumasi Ankrah. It was delivered the following day, October 1, by Service Driver Chief Inspector Daniel Addo.
Upon its arrival in Koforidua, officers at the command discovered that the load had been tampered with. Several sacks containing the suspected contraband had been replaced with sawdust, leaving the consignment significantly reduced compared to what had initially been seized. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns within the police force.
Prior to the truck’s transfer, Superintendent Francis Ackah, the Asesewa District Police Commander, had refused to release the vehicle to the regional operations commander, insisting on personally escorting it. Despite these measures, the tampering occurred before its arrival at the regional command.
Further complicating matters, two suspects connected to the case—identified as Sulley Abubakari and Sadat—escaped custody while being held at the Sekesua Police Station. Their absence has added another layer of uncertainty to the case and raised questions about procedural lapses.
In a related development, three police officers who had intercepted the vehicle were briefly detained and handed over to the regional operations commander. They were later held at the KTU Police Station before being released following intervention by Deputy Minister of Interior Ebenezer Terlabi Okletey. The officers have since been directed to submit official statements regarding their involvement in the operation.
The situation has sparked unease within the Eastern Regional Command, with some officers expressing frustration over what they perceive as unfair treatment of colleagues who risked their lives during the operation. The incident has highlighted internal challenges and procedural gaps that require urgent attention.
-Citinewsroom
Curated by Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
