Two remanded in 32 kg cocaine case

Accra, March 22, GNA - Two persons on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with abetment of crime relating to narcotic drugs.

Kwame Owusu Yelbert, a security officer, and Emmanuel Owusu Okutu, a sales assistant, pleaded not guilty.

The Court remanded them in Police custody for two weeks to enable the Police to complete their investigations.

Yelbert and Okutu with Daniel Sanga Nimock and Felix Edusei, who are now at large, abetted to hide 32 kilograms of a powdery substance suspected to be cocaine in the Transit Shop at the Kotoka International Airport on March 14.

The facts of the case as told by the Prosecution were that Yelbert worked with the Ghana Airport Security Company, while Okutu is a sales assistant at the Duty Free Shop, both within the Airport.

The Prosecution said at about 1800 hours on March 14, 2007 the Head of the Security Company had a tip-off that certain persons were hiding some narcotic drugs in one of the offices at the Airport.

According to the Prosecution, a search ordered by the security head discovered 32 kilograms of a powdery substance suspected to be cocaine hidden at the Transit Shop, which was part of the Duty Free Shop. The Prosecution stated further that with the help of a detecting machine, the Security Head was able to spot Yelbert and the two fugitives carrying heavy nylon bags into the Transit Shop. According to the Prosecution, a witness in the case earlier overheard Okutu discussing with somebody that some goods would be deposited at the Transit Shop.

The two accused persons were subsequently handed over to the Police for interrogation. The Prosecution said efforts were being made to arrest the two suspects, while the stuff had been forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board for analytical examination.