An 80-hectare wee farm was discovered in the Obuo Akroma Forest Reserve in the Afram Plains North District by the Forestry Commission on Saturday. It is said to have been the largest illegal cannabis farm discovered so far with five suspects arrested.
The five people including an agric science teacher were arrested by a team of Forestry Commission personnel who had swooped on the suspects in the farm acting on a tip-off.
The suspects had been identified as Michael Anakpo, the Agric teacher and alleged leader in charge of the farm, Normenyo Blewu, Korsi Mawuena, Charles Kale and Emmanuel Kojo.
The five (5) suspects have been handed over to the Police for further investigation.
According to the District Manager of the Forestry Commission in Afram Plains, Mr Richard Amoateng who led the operation during the weekend, three maxi-sacks of harvested weed, six medium size sacks, three cutlasses, two hoes, a knife, five plastic containers filled with the harvested stuff and alcoholic drinks mixed with the narcotic substance were retrieved.
“We had a hint about the activities of the suspects in the forest reserve and quickly mobilised my team to the said reserve where we met the suspects and several others on the farm.
The suspects attacked us but my men overpowered them while others managed to escape being arrested.” Mr Amoateng said during a media briefing.
The District Manager added that the suspects have also nursed many of the seedlings waiting to be planted.
According to him they found 13 tents on the farm that accommodated the suspects as they had erected a warning signpost with the inscription “Don’t attempt.”
Mr Amoateng assured that the Commission he and his team will intensify their operations to cut down the illegal cultivation of such herbs in the area.
