COCAINE COLLAR: 62-year-old Ghanaian in UK Busted!

A DRUG trafficker was foiled trying to smuggle cocaine into Scotland sewn into ceremonial robes. More than £250,000 of the drug were sewn into the collars of the 13 garments. An alert Customs officer became suspicious of the man carrying the clothes. When Nana Owusu-Ansah's case was opened, officials found 7lb of cocaine. Each of the west African robes had small packets of the drug stitched into the lining. Yesterday, the 62-year-old from Ghana admitted drug smuggling and was remanded in custody to await sentence. Suspicions were aroused because of the route taken by Owusu-Ansah and the evasive way he answered when quizzed by Customs officers. He was caught after flying into Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight from Heathrow in January. Yesterday, the High Court in Glasgow was told that after being arrested, Owusu-Ansah had told Customs that a man had asked him to take the robes into the UK. Graeme Jessop, defending, added: 'My client flew into Glasgow Airport at 9.55am and collected his luggage. 'He was intercepted by a Customs officer who questioned him, then searched his briefcase, which contained £1000 in £20 notes.' Judge Lord Kinclaven deferred sentenced on Owusu-Ansah - who has joint Ghanaian-UK nationality - until next month at the High Court in Paisley.
Yesterday, a Customs source told the Record: 'This was a very good attempt at concealment. The case is the latest in which Africans are using Scottish airports as an entry point