Zambian fined GHC90k for trafficking ephedrine

An Accra High Criminal Court 2 has convicted a Zambian businesswoman Matildah Nkole Kangombe for trafficking precursor chemical in her luggage at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Ms. Nkole Kangombe, 47 was convicted by His Lordship Justice Cee Baiden upon her own plea and subsequently sentenced to a fine of 7,500 penalty units equivalent to Ninety Thousand Cedis (GH ?90,000)

In default, Ms Nkole Kangombe will serve 15 years prison term for trafficking of Ephedrine without permission from the appropriate office.

Operatives of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) arrested Ms Nkole on Sunday 28 April 2018 at the KIA when she was going through departure formalities to board Ethiopian Airline flight NO. ET 819 to Ethiopia enroute Maputo-Mozambique.

A preliminary search carried out on her hand luggage revealed nothing incriminating and she was later escorted to the luggage section where she identified a brown ‘Samsonite’ bag as hers.

Follow up checks in her presence uncovered a whitish substance wrapped with four mini blankets and two towels. A field test on the exhibit proved positive for narcotic substance.

Further analytical test at the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) proved the substance as Ephedrine, a pharmaceutical raw material that is used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, an illicit drug with a weight value of 25kg.

Upon interrogation, she admitted ownership of the bag to officers of NACOB and said the bag was given to her by one Ahmed at an unknown hotel to be delivered to a Christian sister of hers in Maputo, Mozambique.

Ms Nkole Kangombe among others has fallen prey to this modus operandi employed by suspected drug cartels.

NACOB admonishes the public to desist from delivering parcels for and on behalf of others, as it has been the conduit for trafficking narcotic drugs.

The public is urged to voluntarily provide information leading to the successful arrest of persons suspected to be indulging in nefarious activities in narcotic-related acts.