Head Porter gets 11 years for possessing drugs

An Accra Circuit Court on Friday sentenced one Okeji Omotosho, a head porter, to 11 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

Okeji, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was caught in possession of 15 compressed dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

Chief Superintendent of Police Duuti Tuaruka, presenting the facts of the case, said the complainant is a trader and a citizen vigilante and lives at New Town, while the convict, 20, is a Nigerian and lives at Okaishie.

He said on October 28, at about 0200 hours the complainant was at circle when he saw Okeji, with two heavy bags. Based on his conduct, the complainant suspected he had stolen the items in it and asked him about its content.

He told the court that the convict ignored the complainant and attempted to board a trotro but he was prevented from doing so.

Chief Superintendent of Police Tuaruka said the complainant then drew the attention of some people around and when he finally opened the bag, 15 parcels of compressed dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were inside it.

He was subsequently arrested and handed over to the police together with the exhibits. On interrogation Okeji claimed ownership of the stuff and stated in his investigation caution statement that he was hired by one Alaja to convey it to Okaishie.