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Takoradi Circuit Court “B” has remanded Kwame Otoo, 24-year old fisherman resident at Axim, for allegedly possessing narcotic drug without authority.

The accused pleaded not guilty and is to re-appear on January 28 this year.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Osei Kumi, told the court presided by Justice Michael Ntumi that about 12 noon on August 27 last year, a team of plain clothed Police personnel from the Axim Distinct Police Command on observation duty visited a place around the Lower Axim Fish Landing bay known for narcotic activities and came across the accused and a group of young men smoking.

He said on seeing the police, the smoker’s started running helter-skelter but luck clued the accused and he was arrested by the team and a search conducted at the scene revealed some 75 wrappers, one compressed parcel and 11 parcels of plant materials suspected to be Indian hemp.

Chief Inspector Kumi said the accused denied ownership of the items on caution whiles the exhibits were wax-sealed in his presence and forwarded to the Forensic Laboratory in Accra for analytical examination.

He said on August 28, the accused was arraigned at the Axim Magistrate Court where he was remanded and discharged onAugust 31 by the same court and on September 3, the accused was put before Takoradi Circuit Court “B” and remanded into prisons custody.

Chief inspector Kumi said on December 3, last year, test report received from the Forensic Laboratory indicated the exhibits tested positive for cannabis, weighing 1,653 22 grammes.

He said based on the report, the accused was formally charged with the offence on December 24 and arraigned at the Takoradi Circuit Court “B”.