The Gbetsile Circuit Court, presided over by Eleanor Kakra Banes Botchway, has sentenced two police officers to a combined 30 years imprisonment for trafficking narcotic drugs.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nasiru Amadu and G/Cpl Emmanuel Mintah, both formerly of the Sakumono District Police Command, were found guilty of conspiracy and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs for trafficking. The offences violate Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 and Section 37(2)(b) of the Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).
Sentencing
The two officers were 5 sentenced to five and ten years each on two counts. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
Additionally, each convict has been fined 10,000 penalty units equivalence of 120,000 cedis. Failure to pay the fine will attract an extra three years imprisonment.
Background of the Case
According to Prosecuting Officer ASP Ernest Kuofie, the two officers were arrested on November 19, 2023, after police on snap-check duty intercepted a Nissan Navara (GP 727) suspected to be transporting drugs from Ho to Accra.
A search of the vehicle revealed eight sacks containing 541 compressed parcels of suspected narcotics.
How the Deal Unfolded
Mintah, then 43, allegedly had a relative known as “Oluman” from Ashaiman Tulaku who deals in narcotics. On the day of the incident, Oluman allegedly engaged Mintah to transport Indian hemp from Peki Tsibu in the Volta Region to Tulaku, for a fee. Mintah reportedly informed his superior, ASP Amadu, who agreed and contacted Oluman to finalise arrangements. They drove the police vehicle to a forest near Peki Tsibu, where they received the drugs from a Benz bus.
Investigations later revealed that this was not their first time engaging in such illegal acts.
source:mynewsgh
