Unemployed jailed 4 months for peddling narcotics

A Ho Circuit Court presided over by Mrs Priscilla Dikro Ofori has sentenced a 33-year old Wonder Gafatsi, unemployed, to four months imprisonment in hard labour for peddling narcotics.

The court also ordered him to pay a fine of 70 penalty units, equivalent of eight hundred and forty cedis (GHC 840.00) or in default serve another four months imprisonment.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Aboagye told the court that on 31 August, 2017 at about 1430 hours, the Akatsi Police conducted a swoop at Gagbakope a suburb of Akatsi and arrested the accused who was carrying a black school bag on his back.

He said a search into the bag revealed some quantities and 26 wrappings of suspected cannabis sativa.

The prosecution said in his cautioned statement the accused claimed ownership of the bag but denied its contents.

DSP Aboagye said the accused was arraigned on a preliminary charge after which the exhibits were sent to the Police Forensic Laboratory in Accra for examination.

The prosecution said a report from the laboratory confirmed the exhibits as cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug with a net weight of 275.89kg.

The accused was subsequently charged for peddling narcotic drugs without authorization and arraigned before court.

The court also ordered that the drugs be burnt.