Three in court over narcotic drugs
A Freight forwarder, Isa Adamu who allegedly concealed 32 parcels of compressed leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa among 16 boxes of yam, cocoyam and plantain to be exported to the United Kingdom on Monday appeared before an Accra High Court.
Adamu pleaded not guilty to possession and attempted exportation of narcotic drugs.
His accomplices, Kwesi Gyamfi, dealer in video cassettes also pleaded not guilty to possessing narcotics drugs while Noble Aboagye, a trader pleaded not guilty to abetment of crime by informing one Michael Bamfo, the main suspect of Adamu’s arrest.
The court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist admitted Gyamfi and Aboagye to GH¢5,000 bail each with a surety to be justified.
However, the court noted that the charges preferred against them were not proper, and remanded Adamu into police custody to re-appear on March 18.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered Aviance Cargo at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to destroy the perishable items among which the drugs were found.
Mr Asiamah Sampong, Principal State Attorney, after reading the facts prayed the court to remand the accused persons pending further investigations.
Mr J.K. Yeboah, Counsel for Gyamfi and Aboagye, said his clients were innocent.
He said Gyamfi only confirmed to Bamfo an accomplice about Adamu’s arrest.
Counsel said the charge of possession levelled against Aboagye cannot stand as Adamu committed the offence before Aboagye’s arrest.
Mr Yeboah said Aboagye did not know anything about the drugs and did not possess the 32 parcels of the drugs as the prosecution had not told the court how they were going to interfere with investigations.
Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Darteh (Rtd) Counsel for Adamu, argued that his client had been transacting business at KIA for the past 15 years and never dealt in drugs.
He said because the accused had been exporting food stuffs abroad, one Bamfo approached him for assistance to export some foodstuffs to the UK.
Counsel said his client invited personnel of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to inspect the 16 boxes and was shocked the 32 parcels were found.
The prosecution’s case was that on February 21, this year, Adamu attempted to export 32 parcels of cannabis among 16 boxes of yam and plantain to the UK.
Following routine check by security personnel on the boxes, the drugs were found among the foodstuffs, Adamu was arrested and he mentioned Bamfo as his source.
The prosecution said while security personnel were making efforts to arrest Bamfo, Aboagye was warned by the security personnel not to inform Bamfo about the arrest of Adamu but he did.
Source: GNA