Ten Ghanaians on board an Accra-New York flight of Delta Airlines were arrested last month at JFK Airport, USA, for drug-related offences. Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) sources said they are assisting the US security authorities in their investigations.

The Executive Secretary of NACOB, Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, who spoke to the Times newspaper in Accra on Tuesday, on the arrest, blamed officials of Debill Security Services, a US security agency that provides inflight security, for allegedly preventing NACOB officials at the Kotoka International Airport from conducting a search on the passengers as well as their luggage.

Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong said that for some time now, security personnel of airlines had not allowed NACOB operatives at the KIA to search passengers who boarded their flights. Though NACOB had sought to know the reason, he said this had not been forthcoming. He said unlike the other airlines whose crew complied with rules to profile their passengers and search their luggage, Delta Airlines in particular did not.

He said he had complained to authorities of the Delta Airlines and Debill Security Services which compelled an official of Debill Service to come to Ghana to apologise to NACOB. NACOB had since resumed searches on the passengers and luggage. Mr. Akrasi Sarpoong explained that the presence of NACOB and other security operatives at the KIA was not to intimidate passengers, but to discharge their duties as prescribed by law.

He said the spate of drug trade across the globe was disturbing with some cartels and couriers redirecting their focus to West Africa. He said it required a holistic approach to deal with the situation. Mr. Akrasi Sarpong said Ghana had chalked success in many spheres and it would not allow its image to be dented through the actions or inactions of a few people.

He urged the public to report people they suspected of dealing in narcotics to the NACOB or the security agencies. Meanwhile Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong and the NACOB had taken delivery of two sniffing dogs from India to enhance its security operations at KIA. The donation forms part of India’s support to Ghana‘s quest to fight the drug menace, particularly at the airport. He said two officials of NACOB had been to India for training in the handling of the dogs while four other security officers were due to undergo a similar training in Germany.

NACOB Blames Delta Airlines For Attempted cocaine smuggling:-

The Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) Mr Akrasi Sarpong, says its officials cannot be blamed for last month’s attempted cocaine smuggling by some 10 Ghanaian nationals into the United States through the Kotoka International Airport.

Ten Ghanaians on board an Accra-New York flight of Delta Airlines were arrested in March 2010 at JKF Airport, USA, for drug related offences.

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, April 29, Mr Akrasi said Delta Airlines should be blamed for the lapses that allowed 10 Ghanaian nationals to leave the shores of Ghana without being noticed.

According to him, officials of Debill Security Services, a US security agency that provides in-flight security, allegedly prevented NACOB officials at the Kotoka International Airport from conducting a search on the passengers as well as their luggage.

Mr. Akrasi- Sarpong added that for some time now, security personnel of Delta airlines had not allowed NACOB operatives at the KIA to search passengers who boarded their flights unlike other airlines whose crew complied with rules to profile their passengers and search their luggage.

“Delta believes that because the flight is bound for the US they are better equipped to search passengers and their luggage’s…but we said that no, we in NACOB are better equipped than Delta. We told them give us each of your people who search the bag and we would show you that we are better have training”.

“So when the ten people were arrested we told them that that is clear evidence that you people must take full responsibility, we won’t take responsibility because if you respected the global fight against Narcotics you would have collaborated with us”

He however added that a complaint sent to the authorities of the Delta Airlines and Debill Security Services has compelled an official of Debill service to come to Ghana to apologize to NACOB. NACOB had since resumed searches on the passengers and luggage.

“Now, fortunately they have come to recognise that they need to collaborate with us and from the April 1 2010, they have allowed our team to be part of their search party for their flights”.

Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong explained that the presence of NACOB and other security operatives at the KIA was not to intimidate passengers but to discharge their duties as prescribed by the law.

He said the spate of drug trade across the globe was alarming with some cartels and courier redirecting their focus to West Africa. He said it required a holistic approach to deal with the situation.

He assured that NACOB is putting in place preventive measures to clamp down on the kingpins behind the drug menace that has engulfed the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Akrasi-Sarpong has confirmed to Citi News that officials of NACOB have arrested a renowned music producer Mr Sarfo Katanka, over possession of drugs suspected to be cocaine.

He was arrested on Tuesday April 27, at the Kotoka International Airport after a body scan confirmed that he had swallowed some pellets of cocaine.

He was on his way to catch a UK-bound British Airways Flight when drug enforcement officials detained him. Mr Akrasi Sarpong, added Mr Safo Kantanka will be processed for court by the close of day on Thursday, April 29.

Source: peacefmonline/The G. Times/citifmonline.com

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