THE AFLAO Circuit Court presided over by Francis Obiri, has sentenced a 46-year-old Nigerian drug peddler to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of narcotic drugs.
Ome Joe, who claims to be a porter, sought to outsmart the police by posing as a trader and transporting his ware through a Metro Bus Transit Bus, popularly called ‘Kufuor Bus’ which are not thoroughly searched by security personnel manning the route.
Unfortunately for him, his strategy did not work as security personnel intercepted about 114,992.18 grams of Indian hemp, popularly called ‘wee’.
Prosecuting, DSP Akwasi Asafo-Adjei told the court that on 23rd March this year, at 7:45 am, G/L/CPL Augustine Azakem was in charge of four police officers who were on duty at the Ave-Xevi border when the incident happened. He said the officers were undertaking routine checks on vehicles when a Metro Mass Transit Bus with registration number AS-6067-10 approached. After a thorough search, the policemen retrieved two fertilizer sacks containing 48 parcels of Indian hemp, three baskets and one large suitcase stuffed with Indian hemp from the side boot of the bus.
DSP Asafo-Adjei, who is also the Ketu-North District Police commander, said when the passengers were asked who the luggage belonged to, no one owned up. However, Ome Joe was seen running into a nearby bush. He was then pursued and arrested by the police.
He said during investigation, Ome claimed he was a porter at the Aflao border and was contracted by one Achianye to assist him cart the goods from Ho to Aflao.
According to Ome, Achianye was also on the bus but sought permission to attend to nature’s call during the search but never returned.
“The drug ,which is suspected to be destined for Nigeria, was sent to the Ghana Standard board, Forensic Science Laboratory, Accra where it was tested positive for delta 9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) as a Narcotic Drug,” the prosecutor noted.
He added that the accused admitted to the offence in his caution statement but stated that he only the two fertilizer sacks were his. After investigations, he was charged with the offence and later found guilty.
Source: Fred Duodu, Dzodze
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