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NACOB receives equipment to check
narcotics scourge
Accra, July 16, GNA - Ghana moved a notch higher in the
quest to quell the menace of drug trafficking as the
government of the United Kingdom on Wednesday donated a
state-of-the-art equipment to the Narcotics Control
Board (NACOB) to recover narcotic substances concealed
in the stomach or anus of couriers.
The equipment - Frost Machine - valued at 15,000 pounds
sterling is the second of such facility in use in the
world and the first in Africa. The other one is at
Terminal Five of Heathrow Airport in the UK.
The facility, which has been installed at the premises
of the NACOB, would enable NACOB in the delivery and the
process of expelling narcotics from people busted for
the crime in the most hygienic way, as well ensure the
safety of suspects and the health those who operate the
facility.
One means of concealing narcotics from West Africa to
Europe is by swallowing it in the form of pellets or
pushing the pellets into the anus to outwit security.
Mr Ben Botchway, Executive Secretary of NACOB, said
before the Frost Machine was installed, the board had to
make do with other facilities that posed health risk to
both suspects and operatives of the NACOB.
He expressed appreciation to the UK for the facility,
saying, “this is a boost to our work”.
Mr Nicholas Westgate, the British High Commissioner to
Ghana, who handed the facility over to the NACOB, noted
that the narcotics trade was a scourge that needed
cooperation between nations to combat.
He said the drugs menace was a constant struggle that,
“you cannot solve overnight”, and expressed optimism
that it would be a step to solving the problem.
The High Commissioner said his country was keen to
assist Ghana fight the menace, adding, “We wish to
continue sending experts to Ghana to help”.
The UK government is also assisting in arresting drug
couriers at the Kotoka International Airport through
Operation Westbridge project.
GNA
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