Three remanded over narcotic drugs

Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - Three persons were on Wednesday remanded by an Accra Circuit Court in connection with the import of 5.5 kilogrammes of heroin.

They are a 35-year-old trader who was arrested by security personnel at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for smuggling the drug and two accomplices.

Sheikh Kwame Abudulouye was charged for importing narcotic drugs without license by the Minister of Health and possessing drugs without lawful authority.

His accomplices Nana Bonsu and Henry Kanyi Foli, who attempted to bribe security personnel with 5,000 dollars were charged with abetment and conspiracy to commit narcotic offence.

Osei Bonsu, alias Nana Osei, is further charged for possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority.

Their pleas were no taken and they were remanded by the court chaired by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh to reappear on August 25. The case of prosecution is that on August 7, Abudulouye was arrested at KIA at for possessing two large parcels containing a whitish substance suspected to be narcotic drugs.

The prosecution said Abudulouye arrived from Bangkok aboard a Lufthansa flight and while going through arrival formalities, security personnel searched his travelling bag and two parcels of the drugs were found concealed in a false compartment.

The prosecution said when Abudulouye was interrogated, he said the drugs were given to him in Bangkok by a Nigerian called Larry to be delivered to his brother, whose name he did not give.

During Abudulouye's arrest, he negotiated with security personnel to offer them 5,000 dollars so that the matter would be settled. The prosecution said the security personnel feigned interest and Abudulouye called his supposed recipient on phone, briefed him about his situation and requested that he brought along 5,000 dollars for settlement.

Abudulouye alleged that when the recipient was not forthcoming he decided to contact his friend Osei Bonsu to assist him. The prosecution said Osei Bonsu and Foli arrived at the Airport. Immediately Foli handed over the 5,000 dollars to Abudulouye they were arrested.

Bonsu sensing danger took to his heels but was apprehended by security personnel.

When Bonsu was searched, two small wrappers of the whitish substances tied in rubber sachet suspected to be narcotic drugs was found in his pocket.

Bonsu and Foli claimed that they were not the supposed recipients of the drugs and that they only assisted Abudulouye financially. The prosecution said the drugs were being forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board for examination.