Nigerian jailed for dealing in drugs

Accra, Sept. 05, GNA - A Nigerian, Egbule Echezolachi Arisa charged with attempted exportation and possessing cocaine weighing 713.4 grammes was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour on his own plea by a Greater Accra Regional Tribunal. The court however, ordered that his sentence should start from the day of his arrest.

Mrs Stella Badu, Principal State Attorney, prosecuting said on June 6, last year, at about 2000 hours Arisa arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to board a flight to Amsterdam. She said while going through departure formalities, Arisa was arrested on suspicion of carrying some narcotic drugs and escorted to 37 Military Hospital where an x-ray examination showed foreign materials in his stomach.

The prosecution said two days later Arisa expelled 52 pellets of wrapped substances, which after laboratory analysis proved to be cocaine weighing 713.4 grammes. She said Arisa in his cautioned statement admitted the offence and was charged.