Fifty-one-year-old Oppong Kwaku Owusu is facing prosecution after he allegedly expelled 100 pellets of some powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
This follows his apprehension by officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) at the Kotoka International Airport last week.
A statement issued by NACOB said three parcels of powdery substances suspected to be cocaine were also found concealed in his carry-on luggage.
Owusu was remanded into prison custody when he appeared before the court on Thursday, February 20, and ordered to reappear on Monday, March 2.
Operation
Explaining the circumstances leading to his arrest, the NACOB statement said Owusu was identified at the departure hall of KIA on suspicion of having ingested some foreign substance.
This happened on Tuesday, February 18, at about 1940 hours, the statement, signed by Mr Francis Opoku Amoah, head of communications, media relations & protocol unit, said.
“His carry-on luggage was searched in his presence and three parcels of powdery substances suspected to be cocaine, a narcotic drug, were found concealed in it,” the statement added.
Upon interrogation, he denied knowledge and ownership of the substance in the bag, but claimed ownership of the clothing in it. He, however, confessed to having ingested similar substance, the statement said.
“Owusu was put under observation and as of 1200 hours of February 19 2020, he had expelled 100 pellets of the powdery substance suspected to be cocaine
“In his investigative cautioned statement, the suspect stated that he was contracted by one Alhaji, a Ghanaian resident in Amsterdam, to acquire and transport some drugs for a fee of €1500. However, he declined to give full details of all his contacts,” the statement said.
Serious examinations
It gave the assurance that the exhibits – the three parcels and 100 pellets of whitish powdery substances – will be forwarded to the Ghana Standards Authority for analytical examination and report.
Owusu, the statement said, carried a Ghanaian passport with the number G2563315, issued in Accra on August 22 2019, which was expected to expire on August 21, 2029.
Additionally, he possessed the Kingdom of The Netherlands passport with the number NYDK14RP7, issued on December 15 2015 and expected to expire on December 15 2025.
The Narcotics Control Board, the statement said, will continue to collaborate and partner with other stakeholders and international partners to make Ghana, and in particular the Kotoka International Airport, unattractive for drug traffickers.
Credit: GNA
