COCAINE COLLAR: 62-year-old Ghanaian in UK Busted!

A DRUG trafficker was foiled trying to smuggle cocaine into Scotland sewn into ceremonial robes. More than ?250,000 of the drug were sewn into the collars of the 13 garments. An alert Customs officer became suspicious of the man carrying the clothes.

When Nana Owusu-Ansah's case was opened, officials found 7lb of cocaine.

Each of the west African robes had small packets of the drug stitched into the lining.

Yesterday, the 62-year-old from Ghana admitted drug smuggling and was remanded in custody to await sentence.

Suspicions were aroused because of the route taken by Owusu-Ansah and the evasive way he answered when quizzed by Customs officers.

He was caught after flying into Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight from Heathrow in January.

Yesterday, the High Court in Glasgow was told that after being arrested, Owusu-Ansah had told Customs that a man had asked him to take the robes into the UK.

Graeme Jessop, defending, added: 'My client flew into Glasgow Airport at 9.55am and collected his luggage.

'He was intercepted by a Customs officer who questioned him, then searched his briefcase, which contained ?1000 in ?20 notes.'

Judge Lord Kinclaven deferred sentenced on Owusu-Ansah - who has joint Ghanaian-UK nationality - until next month at the High Court in Paisley.
Yesterday, a Customs source told the Record: 'This was a very good attempt at concealment. The case is the latest in which Africans are using Scottish airports as an entry point

A DRUG trafficker was foiled trying to smuggle cocaine into Scotland sewn into ceremonial robes. More than ?250,000 of the drug were sewn into the collars of the 13 garments. An alert Customs officer became suspicious of the man carrying the clothes.

When Nana Owusu-Ansah's case was opened, officials found 7lb of cocaine.

Each of the west African robes had small packets of the drug stitched into the lining.

Yesterday, the 62-year-old from Ghana admitted drug smuggling and was remanded in custody to await sentence.

Suspicions were aroused because of the route taken by Owusu-Ansah and the evasive way he answered when quizzed by Customs officers.

He was caught after flying into Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight from Heathrow in January.

Yesterday, the High Court in Glasgow was told that after being arrested, Owusu-Ansah had told Customs that a man had asked him to take the robes into the UK.

Graeme Jessop, defending, added: 'My client flew into Glasgow Airport at 9.55am and collected his luggage.

'He was intercepted by a Customs officer who questioned him, then searched his briefcase, which contained ?1000 in ?20 notes.'

Judge Lord Kinclaven deferred sentenced on Owusu-Ansah - who has joint Ghanaian-UK nationality - until next month at the High Court in Paisley.
Yesterday, a Customs source told the Record: 'This was a very good attempt at concealment. The case is the latest in which Africans are using Scottish airports as an entry point