Nabbed for selling Indian hemp-laced gin

If you savour Akpeteshie, the popular gin local to Ghanaians, then be mindful about where you go for your drink and what is served you at the drinking bar.

Rather than your favourite shot, you would be taking a concoction which has become known as "wee bitters". It is a mix of akpeteshie and Indian hemp, ostensibly meant for a selective clientele but which is sold to the unsuspecting customer as well.

The Police busted one of the sources of the devilish concoction, the Young Star Club in a swoop last Saturday and arrested the operator, Kwesi Mensah, 29.

The La District Police in Accra carried out the raid on the bar located at La Wireless near the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority premises which the police described as a den of criminals.

Eight other people were arrested during the swoop, one of whom was described by the police as a hardened criminal allegedly connected to previous crimes. They are being screened.

District Commander Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Nyame Adane-Ameyaw said that they carried out another raid in the area but the suspected criminals fled upon seeing the police.

He said that Mensah admitted lacing the akpeteshie with the narcotic drug and selling to his customers who patronize his bar. Mensah however could not identify his customers because he said they were many.

ASP Adane-Ameyaw, who said at the time of raid there were no customers at the bar, added, "Some customers might have gone for the early morning shot before we arrived".

He said they went there upon intelligence to look out for many things including people said to be peddling wee and other narcotic drugs at the La Market.

"Consequently we raided the place but it appears they have decided to relocate to the Wireless area".

According to him the criminals have become a nuisance to the GCAA members of staff who live around as they attack them and snatch their mobile phones and other valuables as well as rape unsuspecting women.

ASP Adane-Ameyaw added that the criminals also steal the building materials of the Ghana@50 housing projects being constructed nearby.

The presence of the police in the area on Wednesday may have come as a big relief for the residents who gathered round to give the police moral support.

Source: The Ghanaian Times