Police seize suspected contraband in Bono East operation
The Bono East Regional Police Command has intercepted a Kia Rhino truck believed to be transporting contraband through Jema, following a coordinated intelligence‑led operation.
The vehicle, registered UE 819‑26, was stopped on September 1 while en route from Nalerigu to Kumasi. Its driver, Fusini Danaa, was arrested around 4:00 p.m. together with his mate.
In a statement signed by DCOP Shaibu A. Sadique‑Osei, the Command explained that the arrest was triggered by “actionable intelligence” indicating the truck was being used to ferry illicit goods. “Preliminary investigations reveal that the consignment was given to the driver by a mentioned person at Bentri near Nalerigu for onward delivery to a customer in Kumasi,” the statement noted.
A search of the truck, which was loaded with maize, uncovered 321 boxes of foreign cigarettes, including 40 boxes of Royals, 175 boxes of Oris, and 106 boxes of Gold Seal. Officers also retrieved 23 bags of soya beans, 39 bags of groundnut husks, 21 bags of millet, and 100 containers of suspected sodium cyanide.
The discovery of sodium cyanide alongside food items prompted immediate concern. Samples of the chemical have been taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for laboratory analysis. Police emphasized that transporting such substances with consumables “posed serious public health risks.”
The operation was supported by personnel from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOB), the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (CEPS), and Defence Intelligence (DI).
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle and all exhibits have been secured while investigations continue to trace the full network behind the consignment. The Command commended the collaborating agencies and reaffirmed its commitment to “fighting crime and ensuring public safety.”
Source: myjoyonline.com
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