Former staff of DHL Ghana jailed ten years for dealing in drugs

A former employee of DHL, Karen Otoo has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Accra High Court for attempting to export seven packets of compressed cannabis sativa mixed with chocolates to the United Kingdom.

Karen, who was charged with possession of seven packets of cannabis and possession of drugs without lawful authority, pleaded not guilty.

The convict, a customer care personnel of DHL, Tema branch, however, broke down in tears when the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist pronounced his verdict of guilty on her after the trial.

Prosecuting Mr Asiamah Sampong, Senior State Attorney told the court that witnesses in the matter were officials of DHL head office.

Mr Sampong said on January 1, 2011 Karen processed a parcel to be delivered to one Rev John Mensah in the United Kingdom and she was the sender of the said parcel.

According to Mr Sampong, Karen granted herself 35 per cent discount instead of 30 because she was a staff of the company and she claimed that the content of the parcel with airway bill number 1158009425 were Kingsbite chocolates.

However, when the parcel was examined further it was found that it contained cannabis sativa.

The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) officials were therefore alerted and Karen was arrested together with the parcel.

During interrogation, she told the NACOB officials that the parcel belongs to one Jonathan Boye, her friend who asked her to assist him and she used her name as the sender.

Prosecution said the NACOB officials were unable to trace the said Jonathan Boye and the drugs were forwarded to the Ghana Standard Authority for analytical studies.

Source: GNA