The Tarkwa Circuit Court has fined a 23-year-old small-scale miner, Ibrahim Bansie, GH¢2,400 for the possession of narcotic drugs without authority.  

Bansie, who pleaded guilty would go to prison for 10 months in default of the fine.  

Prosecuting Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor told the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu, that Bansie worked at the Akoon Community Mines but resided at the Tarkwa Railway station.  

He said the complainant was a police officer stationed at the Tarkwa Railway police station 

On November 8, 2023, around 8:10 am, while the complainant was on foot patrol at the Railway station, he entered one of the drinking bars and saw Bansie sitting alone in a cubicle.  

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said when the complainant got closer to Bansie, he noticed he was holding a polythene bag and demanded to know what it contained.  

The prosecution said the complainant requested the polythene bag and during the inspection, he found wraps of dried leaves, wraps of hard black substances and sachets of Tramadol.  

He said Bansie was arrested and sent to the Railway Police Station together with the exhibits, and during interrogation he claimed one Mistica gave him the polythene bag but failed to aid the police to apprehend him.  

Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the exhibits were forwarded to the Police Forensic Science Laboratory for examination and report.  

It said the Forensic examination report on the exhibit was received indicating that the substances were all active ingredients in cannabis, while the green capsules were found to contain Tramadol.  

The prosecutor said after an investigation the convict person was charged with the offence.