"Palm Soup Cocaine" Chief Freed!

Accra, Sept. 12, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Tribunal on Wednesday acquitted and discharged Nana Kwame Bonsu, Akyempimhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, who was nabbed for allegedly concealing substance suspected to be cocaine in three tins of palm soup.

Bonsu, also known as Teddy Osei Bonsu, was tried for attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs weighing 2,113 grammes of cocaine in three tins of Nkulenu Palm Base and attempting to export it to Amsterdam. (read)

He pleaded not guilty to attempted exportation and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

The Court, in discharging Mr Bonsu, 45, said there was no proper investigation into the matter.

The tribunal decried poor investigations carried out in drug-related cases saying that had made drug barons or suppliers go free with impunity while the carriers were arrested and tried. It noted that the drug business in the country would not abate if the sources of supply were located and uprooted.

The tribunal referred to the failure of the police to investigate the identity of the recipient Mr Bonsu gave out.

The case of the prosecution was that at about 2115 hours on December 7, last year, Mr Bonsu arrived at the Kotoka International Airport to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam, Holland.

The prosecution said while going through departure formalities, Mr Bonsu's travelling bag was searched by personnel of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and three tins of Nkulenu Palm Soup were found. When the tins were pierced with a spike some drugs were found and when a field test conducted in his presence the substance proved to be cocaine.

Mr Bonsu alleged that the three tins were received from one Auntie Serwah to be given to her brother Kofi Amponsah in Amsterdam.

Accra, Sept. 12, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Tribunal on Wednesday acquitted and discharged Nana Kwame Bonsu, Akyempimhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, who was nabbed for allegedly concealing substance suspected to be cocaine in three tins of palm soup.

Bonsu, also known as Teddy Osei Bonsu, was tried for attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs weighing 2,113 grammes of cocaine in three tins of Nkulenu Palm Base and attempting to export it to Amsterdam. (read)

He pleaded not guilty to attempted exportation and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

The Court, in discharging Mr Bonsu, 45, said there was no proper investigation into the matter.

The tribunal decried poor investigations carried out in drug-related cases saying that had made drug barons or suppliers go free with impunity while the carriers were arrested and tried. It noted that the drug business in the country would not abate if the sources of supply were located and uprooted.

The tribunal referred to the failure of the police to investigate the identity of the recipient Mr Bonsu gave out.

The case of the prosecution was that at about 2115 hours on December 7, last year, Mr Bonsu arrived at the Kotoka International Airport to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam, Holland.

The prosecution said while going through departure formalities, Mr Bonsu's travelling bag was searched by personnel of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and three tins of Nkulenu Palm Soup were found. When the tins were pierced with a spike some drugs were found and when a field test conducted in his presence the substance proved to be cocaine.

Mr Bonsu alleged that the three tins were received from one Auntie Serwah to be given to her brother Kofi Amponsah in Amsterdam.