Seven cocaine dealers jailed 10 years each.

Tarkwa, Nov 24,GNA- A Tarkwa circuit court has jailed seven persons 70 years in total for using and distributing cocaine. They pleaded not guilty.

The eight person, Sam Opoku .O. Kwabena, was however acquitted and discharged because he was a victim of circumstances. Prosecuting Police Detective Chief Inspector, Oscar Amponsah, said on November 26, 2008 at the Aowinman hotel at Enchi, the group were arrested sniffing, smoking and distributing cocaine and 80 wraps were found in their hotel room weighting 2.857 grams.

They are; Bismark Ansah, 37, Kwaku Boakye, 31, Kofi Alhassan alias KofiBonsa, 20, Kwadwo Asiedu, 57 and Mohammend Ibrahim, aged 21. The rest are; Appiah Braffo, 44, Samuel Opoku, 44, Alex Gamfi alias Osumanu, 27 are all unemployed.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said on that fateful day, between 0830 hours and 1000 hours, which was also a market day at Enchi, five people reported the theft of 950 Ghana cedis and several mobile phones. He said the team of immigration officers stationed at Enchi arrested Bismark Ansah at the main Enchi lorry station They had a tip off that Bismark was the leader of the gang were engaging in pick pocketing and other activities.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said during interrogation, Bismark confirmed that he was a pick pocket and led the police to the Aowinman hotel where the other accused persons were found with all the windows closed, smoking, sniffing substances with thick smoke hanging in the air. He said 80 wraps of powdered and rocky substances which later proved to be cocaine, a smoking pipe, two compact disc player, eight mobile phones without chips and a cash of 462 Ghana cedis were found in their room. The court confiscated the 462 Ghana cedis to the state and directed that the eight mobile phones should be handed over to the Tarkwa Divisional police commander, to enhance their highway patrols while the two DVD players were returned to Samuel Opoku, who claimed ownership.