A Nigerian national living in Brazil, Ernest Nnajuiba Ukechukwu, was sentenced to 10 years in jail by an Accra High Court on Thursday, July 13, 2023, for possession and attempted smuggling of 16,568.83 grams of cocaine into Ghana.
He was sentenced to ten years in hard labour and fined ten thousand penalty units, for which he will serve three (3) more years in default. The phrase is meant to run simultaneously.
The criminal was apprehended by NACOC officers on December 11, 2022, in the arrival hall of Kotoka International Airport (KIA) while going through arrival formalities.
NACOC officials picked him up as part of their regular routine, and his narrations were found to be inconsistent, prompting further inspections of his bags, which revealed the hidden cargo in his luggage.
Mr. Ukechukwu was charged with six (6) counts of narcotic crimes connected to the illegal importation and possession of narcotic narcotics.
He was brought before the Accra High Court’s Criminal Court Division, where he pled guilty to all six charges and was therefore convicted on his plea by the court presided over by Her Lordship Mary Ekue Yanzuh.
The Court further ordered the destruction of the exhibit, which was done the same day at 1433hrs by NACOC investigators in the presence of the court Registrar, State prosecutors, and defense counsel.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to upholding its mandate to protect the public from the trade and use of illegal narcotics in order to maintain public safety, which is why the sentencing was facilitated.” “Unlawful possession, use, and transportation of illicit drugs are still illegal and punishable under sections 40 (1) and 41 (1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019),” NACOC stated in a statement.
