A joint team comprising nine members from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and 20 operations officers from the Ghana Prisons Service has carried out a security sweep at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison in the Eastern Region.
The operation, conducted on Sunday, April 14, 2024, aimed to locate and confiscate any illicit drugs within the facility.
Despite thorough searches conducted in and around the prison premises, no narcotics were found.
The NACOC officers were accompanied by five security dogs, which were deployed to assist in the search.
Every conceivable area accessible to inmates, including cells, workshops, classrooms, religious spaces such as churches and mosques, as well as the prison hospital, underwent inspection.
Additionally, the perimeter wall surrounding the prison was scrutinised for any signs of hidden narcotics.
Despite the deployment of sniffer dogs throughout the facility, no traces of illicit drugs were detected, concluding the search without any discoveries.
Appreciation
Assistant Director of Prisons Andrews Osei, serving as the Second-in-Command at Nsawam Medium Security Prison, expressed gratitude to the NACOC officers for their diligent operation.
He assured them that the prison staff would maintain their vigilance in regular searches to prevent narcotics and other contraband from infiltrating the prison environment.
NCO Bernard Tetteh, head of NACOC’s K9 unit and leader of the operation, underscored the widespread issue of narcotic drug abuse, particularly among the youth, citing symptoms such as anxiety, paranoia, and mental instability.
He emphasised the detrimental impact of these substances on mental health.
Highlighting the purpose of the exercise, he stated, “The aim of this operation was to locate and confiscate narcotic drugs within the prison facility, countering the perception that prisons are hotspots for illegal narcotics.”
He commended the authorities of Nsawam Medium Security Prison for their cooperation in facilitating the operation and praised the overall management of the Prisons Service for maintaining a narcotic-free environment, contrary to popular belief.
NACOC plans to extend similar exercises to all prison facilities nationwide.