Ghanaian authorities arrest two Nigerians over bags of cocaine
A Nigerian businessman, Samuel Eloka Okoro, suspected to be the head of a narcotics network in Accra, on Wednesday appeared before an Accra circuit court.
Together with his accomplice, David Kalu Okoro, who is also a Nigerian businessman, they were nabbed with three bags of whitish substances believed to be cocaine and two bottles of liquid also suspected to a narcotic drug.
The two have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit unlawful undertaking relating to narcotic drugs and undertaking prohibited business.
They have pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, has remanded them until November 25 pending a ruling on a bail application put in by the accused persons.
Applying for bail, Mr Agyei Lartey, counsel for the suspects, recounted the number of weeks that his clients had been in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
According to Mr Lartey, the suspects had been in custody for the past six weeks and thus should be admitted to bail.
Defence Counsel said the story of the prosecution was prejudicial and questioned the basis under which his clients should be described as a narcotic gang operating in the metropolis.
He further prayed the court to admit them to bail so they could come and defend themselves.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Aidan Dery, said on October 10, this year, at about 0930 hours, the BNI received intelligence report indicating that some Nigerians living in Ghana were engaged in narcotic drug activities at their residence at Ashaley Botwe in Accra.
Prosecution said a team was, therefore, dispatched to the area and Okoro was arrested with two other Nigerians whom he (Okoro) said were his visitors.
According to DSP Dery, Okeke said Okoro was his errand boy.
During a search at their residence, three bags of whitish substance and two bottles of liquid were found in Okoro’s room.
Prosecution said investigation indicated that Okoro distributed the drugs on behalf of Okeke, suspected to be the head of the drug trafficking network in Ghana.
Okeke was, however, picked up after he was traced at his hideout at Dodowa. Okeke, however, denied knowledge of the drugs but stressed that he authorised Okoro to drive his visitors around for sight-seeing.
Investigations further revealed that Okoro and Okeke were believed to be engaging in the package of narcotic drugs for export and they were operating with Ghanaian collaborators.
Source: GNA