The Volta Regional Police Command has destroyed 600 sacks of Indian hemp weighing 47,530 kilograms, with an estimated value of GH¢4.2 billion, following a court order issued after the conclusion of a criminal trial.

The destruction exercise took place on Monday, November 17, around 2:30 p.m., involving exhibits seized in 2022 in the case of The Republic vs. Yao Kwadwo, also known as Wallako, and two others.

Chief Inspector Francis Kwaru Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Regional Police Command, stated in a release on Thursday, November 20, that the Ho Circuit Court authorised the disposal after the exhibits had been presented as evidence.

“The six hundred sacks contained a total of forty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty kilograms (47,530kg) with an estimated face value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis,” the statement noted.

The court order was granted by His Honour Felix Datsumor, presiding judge of the Ho Circuit Court.

The burning exercise was supervised by a multi-agency team, including Circuit Court Registrar Mr. Moses Dzanfi, State Attorney Mr. Joseph Opusomah, Mr. Daniel John Pekyi of the Narcotics Control Commission, and Mr. Emmanuel Mensah Gbekor of the Environmental Protection Authority.

According to the police, the exhibits were “completely burnt under strict Police, National Security, and media supervision at about 22:30 hours at the Kiefe dumping site in Ho.”

The Volta Regional Police Command expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their collaboration in combating drug trafficking and reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating the drug menace.