Drug dealers remanded

Accra Dec. 9, GNA - A 27-year-old dressmaker, Monica Ofori who was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for concealing a quantity of cocaine in her panty on Thursday appeared at a Circuit Court in Accra.

Also in the dock with Monica was Kwame Ntim, an accomplice who allegedly presented the substance to her to be given to his friend in the United Kingdom.

Monica and Ntim whose pleas were not taken have been charged for engaging in criminal conspiracy and attempt to export narcotic drugs without license.

Monica was additionally charged with possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

The court presided over by Mr Kwadwo Owusu remanded them to reappear on January 13, 2005.

The case of the prosecution was that on December 3, this year at about 2100 hours, Monica arrived at the KIA to board the British Airways flight number 078 to the UK.

A routine check revealed a parcel of whitish substance wrapped in a transparent polythene bag concealed in her panty.

A field test conducted on the drugs disclosed they were cocaine. Personnel from the Narcotic Control Board arrested Monica and during interrogation she mentioned Ntim as the one who gave the substance to be given to a friend in London.

Monica telephoned Ntim and informed him that she could not travel to London because she had a problem with her passport.

Prosecution said Ntim decided to pick Monica in a taxi to Osu but officials of the Narcotic Control Board also followed them and apprehended Ntim who denied any knowledge of the drugs. Prosecution said the substance had been forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board for analysis pending further investigations.