Nigerian jailed 10 years for attempting to export cocaine

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - An Accra Regional Tribunal on Wednesday sentenced a Nigerian, who attempted to export 49 pellets of cocaine through the Kotoka International Airport to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

Lucky Osaro, unemployed, who at the start of the trial pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted exportation of narcotic drug without licence and possession of narcotic drug without lawful authority, changed his plea to guilty.

Osaro spent two years in lawful custody during the trial. Pronouncing judgement, Mr Justice Frank Manu, who chaired the Tribunal, said in view of the plea for mitigation by Counsel for the convict and taking into consideration the number of years he had spent in lawful custody, he had decided to impose the minimum sentence of 10 years.

"The Accused is hereby convicted on his own plea. He is sentenced to 10 years IHL on each count to run concurrently." Mr Justice Manu ordered that the exhibit should be destroyed in the Courts' premises.

The Chairman ordered further that the Convict should be deported to his home country after serving the sentence. Ms Cynthia Lamptey, Principal State Attorney, had told the Tribunal that on December 10, 2004, Osaro attempted to export 49 pellets of cocaine with an approximate weight of 729.8 grams without licence. She said officials from the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) confronted Osaro and consequently arrested him. A search on him revealed a whitish substance, which was sent to the laboratory for examination, she said.

According to her, the substance proved positive for cocaine. 30 Aug. 06