<<Print>>

Deputy Minister for the Interior, Kobby Acheampong, has confirmed reports that some officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) have been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport over illicit drugs, but however explains that those arrested are �middle level officers�. Operation Agents of NACOB netted 15 of their own personnel including National Security and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) operatives, over drug-related offences within the last couple of weeks at the Kotoka International Airport. According to sources, a drug suspect, who travelled from Kotoka, was arrested at his final destination in an overseas country and mentioned the names of the security operatives at KIA as those who facilitated his concealment of the cocaine in the plane, leading to his safe departure from Ghana. Jerry, Fati, Akufo, Emmanuel, Timothy, Dennis and Mubarak (full names withheld for security reasons) are among suspected staff of NACOB, BNI and National Security being investigated over the trafficking of narcotic substances. Speaking in an interview with Shamima Muslim on Citi Eye Witness News, Kobby Acheampong said most of the workers arrested are middle level officers deployed in various positions in operational mode, but were giving vital operational details to the drug peddlers. �Investigations are ongoing and as long as those who have been arrested are providing necessary details, we will continue with the investigations�,� he said. He, however, refused to provide further details since he said �the issue is still under investigation�. The suspects are being held at the BNI cells on behalf of NACOB since, according to a source, keeping them in their own facilities was not an appropriate thing to do under the circumstances.