Nine Ghanaians Jailed 10 Years In Liberia

… for drug trafficking

Nine Ghanaian sailors who were found guilty of drug trafficking by a court in Monrovia, Liberia have been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and an additional fine of US$100,000.

The Nine were arrested in January 2008 by a French naval vessel, Touneres on board a vessel the Blue Atlantic and forced to berth at the Free Port of Liberia.

When a search was conducted on the vessel, 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with the street value of US$500 million was found.

The men are Oteng Akrasi Osei, Robert Adjei, James Addy, Joseph Agbo and John Amewa Kofi.

The others are Mamah Dramani, Gibril Ayoub, Henry Coleman and Richard Mensah. They were found guilty Thursday October 23, 2008, by a Jury at a court presided over by Judge, Emmanuel Kollie.

Passing judgement the judge said the Ghanaians acted in violation of the Public Health Law of Liberia, as contained in the new panel code of country. Meanwhile, Lawyers representing the Ghanaians have announced their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.