Police in the Ashanti South Region have foiled an alleged drug trafficking attempt after intercepting a large haul of suspected Indian hemp and arresting a commercial driver during a routine operation.
The operation took place on Tuesday, January 26, 2026, when officers stationed at the Asanso checkpoint on the Bekwai–Aputogya stretch stopped a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus for inspection.
A search of the vehicle revealed nine sacks containing 714 slabs of compressed dried plant material believed to be cannabis.
The driver, 50-year-old Atampugri Akanyani, was taken into custody. In his statement to police, he claimed the consignment was loaded onto the vehicle at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal in Kumasi by an unidentified person and was to be delivered to another individual in Obuasi in exchange for GH¢600.
Police have seized the suspected narcotics and impounded the vehicle to support further investigations. The suspect has since been put before a court to answer to the charges.
Ashanti South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, said the arrest underscores the police service’s resolve to disrupt drug trafficking networks and maintain security across the region.
