The Ashanti Regional Police have retrieved 661 wrappers of white substance suspected to be cocaine in a swoop in Kumasi. The police also retrieved a bucket full of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp during the operation. A locally manufactured gun was also retrieved by the team during the exercise which started last Monday to check criminal activities in the Ashanti region. Deputy Commissioner of Police Jonathan Yakubu, the Director General In-Charge of Police Operations made this known to the press in Kumasi on Monday. Mr. Yakubu explained that police intelligence showed that most of the youth involved in various crimes were under the influence of drugs hence it was necessary that the police broke the drug trade. He said the exercise, which took place in the afternoons were conducted at drug prone areas such as the Suame Magazine, Race Course, Asokwa, Ayigya Zongo, Oforikrom, Alabar and Dagomba Line, all suburbs in the Kumasi metropolis. DCOP Yakubu stated that out of the 200 suspects arrested 21 were on remand with about 20 still in police custody and the rest set free after screening. He stressed that the arrests were based on loitering, possession of narcotics and illegal possession of arms, adding that some of those arrested with the drugs were at their hideout at the Suame Royal Cemetery. Source: GNA