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Suspected cocaine ship captured in Tema
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Sept 2, Ghanadot - Credible
reports reaching Ghanadot from the Tema port revealed that a
shipping vessel suspected to be carrying narcotic substances
believed to be cocaine
is under detention at the port.
Officials from the Narcotic Control Board who are currently
conducting further investigations say the vessel is from
Brazil.
According to them the ship, MV Saint Ephraim, is said to be
carrying cargo manifested as
“sugar”.
If it is confirmed it will be the second time in two years a
narcotic -hauling vessel has
docked in the country.
The reports so far has disclosed
that a joint operation by the National Security, the police,
the Narcotic Control Board and the Port Security has led to
the discovery of five bags of substance suspected to be
cocaine on board the vessel
together with the sugar
on the manifest from Brazil.
A Filipino crew member whose identity is yet to be
established was alleged to have committed suicide after the
discovery of the cocaine.
The 23 crew members, as well as the ship, have been placed
under security guard to avoid any intrusion.
The area around Berth Three, where the vessel MV St Eferm
docked Tuesday afternoon, was cordoned off and declared a
security zone.
Information gathered at the port indicated that Agency
Global Cargo and Commodities based in Tema was the local
agent for the vessel.
Briefing some journalists on the incident in Tema, the
Chairman of the NACOB Board, Captain Assassie Gyimah (retd),
added that the vessel arrived in the country 10 days ago but
was able to berth Tuesday afternoon only for the security to
discover the bags of the substance suspected to be cocaine.
He indicated that the substance looked like sugar and,
therefore, required expertise of officials of the security
agencies and NACOB to detect the substance.
The vessel, flying a Panamanian flag, carried 14,000 tonnes
of sugar from Brazil.
The security search during the joint operation at about 5.30
p.m. uncovered five parcels of a
whitish substance believed to be cocaine.
Meanwhile the body of the Filipino crew member has been
conveyed to a mortuary in Accra Ghana’s capital for further
examination and autopsy.
Ghanadot
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