"Cocaine Soup" Chief in court

Accra, Dec. 14, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday remanded into police custody Nana Kwame Bonsu, Akyempimhene of the Agogo Traditional Area, who was nabbed for allegedly concealing substances suspected to be cocaine in three tins of palm soup.

Bonsu, also known as Toddy Osei Bonsu, is being held for attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs. The court did not take Bonsu's plea and remanded him to reappear on January 15, next year.
Mr Asiamah Sampong, Principal State Attorney, prayed the court for some time to complete investigations.

Mr Joseph Turkson, defence counsel for Bonsu, said his client was being held as a suspect. "As far as the exhibit is concerned what we are carrying was Nkulenu palm fruit."

He said the content was sealed before his client received it, adding, "in such situations the sealed tin should have been opened in the presence of my client when the items were brought in by one Auntie Serwa just as it was done by officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB)".

Mr Turkson admitted that his client was negligent but added, "we had no constructive knowledge of content."
The case of prosecution is that accused who is a Ghanaian resident in Amsterdam arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on December 7, this year, to board KLM flight to Amsterdam. While going through departure formalities, Bonsu was picked up by NACOB and a search was conducted.
Three tins of Nkulenu palm fruits were found and when they were opened some substance was found concealed in them. A field test proved positive to cocaine.
During interrogation, Bonsu said he received the items from one Auntie Serwa who asked that the items should be sent to his brother.