Three held after youths attack chiefs during Assin Asaman anti-drug raid

Three suspects have been handed over to the police after youths attacked traditional leaders and local officials during a four-day community anti-drug raid at Assin Asaman and Owusukrom.

Chiefs from Assin Asaman in the Central Region's Assin Central constituency and from Owusukrom in Ashanti's Adansi South District led the operation with assembly member Gregory Ankomah Gyakye.

Over four days, the community task force demolished several makeshift structures allegedly used as hubs for selling and using narcotics. Search teams also seized cash and quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis, tramadol and cocaine.

Youths linked to the demolished sites then attacked the chiefs, the assembly member and others with them. One team member was wounded with a cutlass, and the windscreen and side windows of Gyakye's vehicle were smashed. Gyakye said the team narrowly escaped being lynched.

Gyakye said drug sales had driven a rise in crime in the area and that traditional leaders would continue working with security agencies.