15 years for trading in narcotics

Tarkwa (W/R), Jan 7, GNA - A Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced a 28-year old galamsey operator, Muftaro Karim to 15 years imprisonment for trading in narcotic drugs at Nsuaem near Tarkwa in Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality. He was found guilty by the court presided over by his Lordship Samuel Obeng Diawuo. Prosecuting, Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court that Karim was first arrested at a galamsey site at Nsuaem, by the area unit committee members who handed him over to the police. She said a search conducted on him on the day of his arrest revealed a whitish powder suspected to be cocaine, five smoking pipes, 43 wrapped heroin and two bundles of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. The police arraigned him before an Agona Nkwanta district court. While awaiting laboratory result of the substance, the accused went to commit a similar offence in Takoradi and was arrested and put before a Takoradi Circuit Court. Inspector Tawiah said he was remanded at the Sekondi prison and was later discharged and the case transferred to Tarkwa Circuit Court. The laboratory results indicated that the substances were cocaine, heroine and cannabis. 7 Jan. 09