Amoateng For Court Today

The Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Eric Amoateng, who is being held in a New York Detention Centre, for allegedly trafficking narcotic drugs, will make another appearance in a US District court today.

Amoateng and his friend Nii Okai Adjei are facing one count of conspiracy to transport and distribute heroin to the United States, contrary to Federal Law. The Nkoranza North MP was busted along with Nii Adjei, in New York on Saturday November 12, 2005 for allegedly smuggling heroin with a street value of $ 6 million.

The 136-pound narcotic drug was concealed in crates of pottery, dispatched from London to New York, for clearance. The MP and his alleged accomplice, pleaded not guilty when they were formally charged on December 12, 2005. They are expected to appear this morning before District Judge Levy of Federal District Court, Brooklyn, New York .

One of Amoateng's counsels, Dennis Adjei-Brenyah said substantive hearing might take place until somewhere next week. He said the defence team would be exchanging notes with the prosecutor in what in American legal terms is referred to as 'discovery'.

At the last hearing, the prosecutor handed over videotapes of what allegedly transpired at the storage room at Staten Island when the accused persons went to inspect the consignment to the legal representatives of the accused persons. Mr Adjei-Brenyah refused to disclose what was on the tape after watching it.

The US Federal agents were said to have planted cameras at the storage house after the customs officials at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey had discovered the drug before being sent to JFK Airport in New York for clearance to the storage house at Staten Island. The accused persons have been refused bail and are being held at a Detention Centre at Brooklyn, New York.