Trader In Trouble Over Narcotics

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced one Festus Agbenyo, a 26-year old trader,to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing of narcotic drugs.

Festus was arrested on October 18, at the Kpando lorry station, Tema Station branch, in Accra with a black and red travelling bag containing a white polythene sack loaded with dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted on his own plea.

The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, in sentencing said it took into consideration his plea for mitigation, and the fact that he did not waste the court's time.

The court also ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to destroy the exhibit within one month in the presence of the court's registrar, and that one gram of the exhibit must be kept.

The Prosecution lead by Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu, told the court that, the complainant is a driver in charge of a Toyota Hiace mini bus and lives in Accra, while the convict is a trader and lives at Nkonya in the Volta Region.

He said on October 18, at about 1400 hours, the convict boarded the complainant's vehicle with a travelling bag from Kpando to Accra.

He said on reaching Accra, the complainant smelt an unusual scent in the boot of his vehicle and alerted his colleague drivers at the station who together questioned Festus about the content.

The Prosecution said when the bag was opened in the presence of the suspect, it contained a white polythene sack loaded with dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs.

He was arrested and sent to the Police station where the exhibits were forwarded to the Police Crime and Forensic laboratory for examination and report.