A police operation in the Eastern Region has come under scrutiny after a truck carrying over 100 sacks of dried leaves, believed to be Indian hemp, arrived at the Eastern Regional Police Command in Koforidua with nearly half of its cargo missing—replaced, in part, with sawdust.
The five-ton Hyundai truck, bearing registration number ER 760-23, had been intercepted by a police patrol team on September 30, 2025. It was ordered to be delivered to the regional command the following day by Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Twumasi Ankrah. The vehicle, driven by Chief Inspector Daniel Addo, arrived on October 1 with significantly less contraband than initially reported.
An internal review of the truck’s contents revealed a substantial discrepancy between the volume of sacks seen at the time of interception and what was ultimately received. Law enforcement sources confirmed that several sacks had been tampered with or substituted with sawdust—raising serious concerns over evidence handling and possible internal interference.
The circumstances surrounding the transfer of the vehicle have added to the confusion. Superintendent Francis Ackah, the Asesewa District Police Commander, had initially resisted releasing the truck without personally escorting it to the regional command. Despite this, the vehicle was later delivered by another officer under separate instructions.
Compounding the irregularities, the two suspects arrested in connection with the intercepted shipment—identified as Sulley Abubakari and a man known only as Sadat—were not present upon the vehicle’s arrival in Koforidua. According to sources, both individuals allegedly escaped from police custody after being held at the Sekesua Police Station.
Meanwhile, three police officers involved in the initial seizure were detained temporarily by their district commander and subsequently transferred to the Koforidua Technical University Police Station. They were held for several hours before being released, following the intervention of Ghana’s Deputy Minister of the Interior. The officers have since submitted formal statements regarding the operation.
The Eastern Regional Police Command has not publicly commented on the matter, but the incident is expected to prompt an internal review amid rising concerns about procedural lapses and accountability in drug enforcement operations.
