A High Court in Accra has sentenced a 39-year-old Nigerian trader, Emmanuel Okechukwu Amara, to 10 years imprisonment and imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units (GH¢120,000), after he pleaded guilty to smuggling narcotic drugs into Ghana. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three years in prison.
The Criminal Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, convicted Amara after he admitted to the charges.
However, his co-accused, Frank Okafor Anthony, pleaded not guilty and has been remanded into prison custody. His trial is set to continue on February 21, 2025.
According to court documents, Amara and Anthony were charged with multiple offenses under the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019), including engaging in Criminal conspiracy to undertake a prohibited Business related to narcotic drugs, possession of Narcotic drugs without lawful authority and importation of narcotic drugs without a license from the minister of health.
The Republic, represented by Fredrick Adu Gyamfi, told the court that on July 20, 2023 operatives from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), acting on intelligence, raided Poslin Hotel Ltd at Magazine New Road, Suame-Kumasi, where the accused were staying.
Amara was arrested in room 407, while Anthony was picked up on the hotel’s staircase. A search of the room led to the discovery of 19 wrappers of methamphetamine, 644 pills of amphetamine, 18,590 tablets of Rohypnol Tramadol (225mg), 1,200 tablets of Tramaking Tramadol (225mg) and 500 tablets of New Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride (225mg).
Investigators also recovered cash amounting to GH¢14,345, N2,250 (Nigerian Naira) and CFA1,500.During interrogation, Amara admitted ownership of the narcotics, stating that he had smuggled them from Nigeria to sell in Kumasi.
However, Anthony denied any involvement. A field test confirmed the seized substances as narcotics and controlled drugs.
Amara’s conviction follows his guilty plea, while Anthony remains in custody facing trial. Authorities are also on the lookout for a third suspect, identified as Frank, who remains at large.
