Goodies jailed 13 years for drugs

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Isaac Abeiku Aidoo, alias Goodies, on Wednesday broke down in tears at the Accra Circuit Court as he was jailed 13 years for drugs offences. Goodies began shedding tears when he gave an unsworn statement to the court as he opened his defence led by his counsel, Mr Oliver Atsu. Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu, the trial judge, convicted Goodies after he had confessed and pleaded for leniency in the unsworn statement. He was sentenced to 13 years' in prison on each count but the sentences would run concurrently.

Goodies was charged with attempted exportation of 80 pellets of drugs suspected to be cocaine and possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority. He pleaded not guilty and was on remanded in prison custody.

The case, as presented earlier by the prosecution, was that on April 23 Goodies arrived at the Kotoka International Airport at about 2245 hours to board a Ghana International Airlines flight to London. The prosecution said while going through departure formalities, operatives of the Narcotics Control Board suspected Goodies of carrying drugs in his stomach. He was therefore escorted to the 37 Military Hospital for an x-ray examination, which revealed that he had some foreign materials in his stomach. He was arrested and put under surveillance and he expelled 80 pellets of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine.

During police interrogation, Goodies said one Abdul Haid, a musician residing at East Legon, Accra, gave the drugs to him to be delivered to one Willie for a fee of 3,000 dollars. The prosecution said he, however, failed to lead the police to arrest Abdul.