Nsawam cocaine suspects remanded in prison custody
Gilbert Boyefio
20/06/2008
The three men arrested at Nsawam in the Eastern Region for importing 399 parcels of cocaine from Guinea into the country have been remanded in prison custody by an Accra Circuit Court on drug related charges.
The three, Kwame Anane, Kofi Amewu Eugene, both drivers, and Deblui Kofi, unemployed, were previously remanded in police custody at the Criminals Investigations Department Headquarters by the court.
At yesterday's sitting, the police prosecutor, DSP Paul Kissi Frimpong, reiterated to the court that investigations are still ongoing. He said the ownership of the cow leg and hide which were loaded on the cargo truck has not yet been proven and consequently requested that the accused persons be remanded into prison service while investigation progress.
He asked permission from the court to allow the police have the Food and Drugs Board to certify whether the cow leg and hide are still wholesome for them to either sell it or destroy it.
Counsel for the accused persons, Fredrick Boamah, bemoaned that his clients were denied legal representation by the police at their first court appearance, even though the police is aware that they have a lawyer. He further told the court that the police have consistently frustrated his attempts to meet with his client.
He said his clients are just the driver and mate of the cargo truck and not the owners and pointed out that just because someone is found in possession of a narcotic drug does not mean the person owns it.
He argued that the substances were concealed in a special compartment of the cargo truck which is difficult for a driver and his mate to be aware of. He said the vehicle belong to a limited liability company which is definitely registered at the Registrar General's Department and therefore easy to determine its ownership.
Mr Boamah told the court that he does not have any problem with the selling or destroying of the cow leg and hide, but requested that a picture be taken of the cargo truck and it contents in its present state as evidence before the intended action.
He brought to the attention of the court the treatment being meted out to his clients by the police. He said two of his clients, Kwame Anane, Kofi Amewu Eugene, were beaten to the extent that they cannot hear properly in one of their ears.
At this juncture, the police prosecutor told the court that he has asked the investigator to send them to hospital.
The accused persons are charged with three counts of conspiracy, possession and importation of narcotic drug without lawful authority.
Their pleas have not been taken by the court.
According DSP Kissi Frimpong, on May 30, 2008 between the hours of 6 and 7 am, upon a tip-off, a team of policemen from Nsawam Police Station mounted surveillance on a Mercedes Benz cargo truck with registration number GT3359Z from Kumasi.
The vehicle, on reaching Nsawam, was intercepted by the team and a search conducted uncovered 399 parcels of substances suspected to be cocaine concealed in an artificially created compartment.
The driver of the truck, Kofi Amewu, a Ghanaian and the other two occupants, Deblui Kofi and Kwame Anane, both Togolese, were arrested to assist the police in their investigations.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle belonged to Evolve Logistics Company, located at Teshie, Accra.
The case has been adjourned to July 17.
20/06/2008
The three men arrested at Nsawam in the Eastern Region for importing 399 parcels of cocaine from Guinea into the country have been remanded in prison custody by an Accra Circuit Court on drug related charges.
The three, Kwame Anane, Kofi Amewu Eugene, both drivers, and Deblui Kofi, unemployed, were previously remanded in police custody at the Criminals Investigations Department Headquarters by the court.
At yesterday's sitting, the police prosecutor, DSP Paul Kissi Frimpong, reiterated to the court that investigations are still ongoing. He said the ownership of the cow leg and hide which were loaded on the cargo truck has not yet been proven and consequently requested that the accused persons be remanded into prison service while investigation progress.
He asked permission from the court to allow the police have the Food and Drugs Board to certify whether the cow leg and hide are still wholesome for them to either sell it or destroy it.
Counsel for the accused persons, Fredrick Boamah, bemoaned that his clients were denied legal representation by the police at their first court appearance, even though the police is aware that they have a lawyer. He further told the court that the police have consistently frustrated his attempts to meet with his client.
He said his clients are just the driver and mate of the cargo truck and not the owners and pointed out that just because someone is found in possession of a narcotic drug does not mean the person owns it.
He argued that the substances were concealed in a special compartment of the cargo truck which is difficult for a driver and his mate to be aware of. He said the vehicle belong to a limited liability company which is definitely registered at the Registrar General's Department and therefore easy to determine its ownership.
Mr Boamah told the court that he does not have any problem with the selling or destroying of the cow leg and hide, but requested that a picture be taken of the cargo truck and it contents in its present state as evidence before the intended action.
He brought to the attention of the court the treatment being meted out to his clients by the police. He said two of his clients, Kwame Anane, Kofi Amewu Eugene, were beaten to the extent that they cannot hear properly in one of their ears.
At this juncture, the police prosecutor told the court that he has asked the investigator to send them to hospital.
The accused persons are charged with three counts of conspiracy, possession and importation of narcotic drug without lawful authority.
Their pleas have not been taken by the court.
According DSP Kissi Frimpong, on May 30, 2008 between the hours of 6 and 7 am, upon a tip-off, a team of policemen from Nsawam Police Station mounted surveillance on a Mercedes Benz cargo truck with registration number GT3359Z from Kumasi.
The vehicle, on reaching Nsawam, was intercepted by the team and a search conducted uncovered 399 parcels of substances suspected to be cocaine concealed in an artificially created compartment.
The driver of the truck, Kofi Amewu, a Ghanaian and the other two occupants, Deblui Kofi and Kwame Anane, both Togolese, were arrested to assist the police in their investigations.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle belonged to Evolve Logistics Company, located at Teshie, Accra.
The case has been adjourned to July 17.
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