NACOB Seizes Drugs, Bleaching Creams from Pilgrims

Officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) have impounded over GH¢10,000 worth of contraband goods from prospective Muslim pilgrims from the three Northern Regions at the Tamale Airport.

The items include large quantities of cola nuts seized from about 20 of the pilgrims, pain killers such as Gebedol, amoxicillin and varieties of bleaching creams which is a lucrative business in Mecca but prohibited by the authorities of Saudi Arabia.

Deep throat sources at NACOB further explained that the goods were meant to sold to other Pilgrims since it is on high demand during the Hajj.

It stated that the seized items would be destroyed adding that “NACOB is going to start with the second phase of the exercise at the Kotoka International Airport on Thursday”.

The source however, admonished the Pilgrims to stay from concealing unapproved items in their luggage.

In all about 2,167 pilgrims are expected to fly from Tamale to Saudi Arabia in seven batches starting Sunday, August 5, to Wednesday, August 8, 2018, while 3,369 of the prospective pilgrims are to be flown from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra to Jedda in 11 batches.

A total of 5, 536 pilgrims are expected to be flown from Ghana to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage this year.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson