Tema: A 31-year-old Dutch national, Gilano Owin, has been arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command over the attempted export of suspected cocaine worth $6.928 million through the Tema Harbour.
According to Ghana Web, Owin was arrested alongside two Ghanaians, John Mensah Sarbah, 41, and Alhaji Iddris Haruna, 52, following an intelligence-led operation at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave. The operation was aimed at intercepting illegal drug exports, which led to the discovery of the suspects allegedly supervising the loading of sacks of gari into a container mounted on a truck.
Addressing the media, Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP Eric Asamoah Asiedu, detailed the events leading to the arrests. 'Acting swiftly on the intelligence, a team of police officers proceeded to the warehouse where they met three persons, namely Gilano Owin, aged 31, a Dutch national; John Mensah Sarbah, aged 41; and Alhaji Iddris Haruna, aged 52, allegedly supervising the loading operation. Police observed that the sacks of gari were being loaded into the container, which was mounted on a white DAF truck bearing registration number WR1118-10,' he said.
DCOP Asiedu explained that the suspects and the truck were transported to the Regional Police Headquarters for further investigation. A subsequent search of the sacks of gari led to the discovery of 866 parcels of a white substance suspected to be cocaine, with a street value of $6,928,000.
The police further revealed that during interrogation, the Dutch national admitted the substance was cocaine and allegedly claimed ownership of it. The three suspects have since been detained to assist with ongoing investigations. 'During interrogation, suspect Gilano Owin allegedly stated that the substance was cocaine and claimed ownership of same. The three suspects have been detained to assist investigations, while the recovered exhibits have been secured for evidential purposes,' DCOP Asiedu stated.
The police command is taking the necessary steps to subject the recovered substance to appropriate forensic examination to establish its exact nature and to further determine the circumstances surrounding its intended export.