Drug courier jailed 15 years

A Ghanaian resident in Spain, Amadu Sumaila, who expelled 80 pellets of cocaine after his arrest last year, was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

Sumaila, who pleaded not guilty to possessing 80 pellets of cocaine weighing 924.67 grammes was, however, found guilty by the court after the trial.

The court presided over Mr Justice Charles Quist said Sumaila knew what he had in his possession, but he could not lead evidence to show that he had the licence to possess them, "and he could not show the court that he was a medical or forensic officer who was to use the drugs for scientific purposes."

The state contended that on July 18, 2008, Sumaila, a Ghanaian resident in Spain, arrived at the Kotoka International Airport to board a flight to Spain.

While going through departure formalities, officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) picked Sumaila up for questioning. The officials of NACOB conducted a urine test and it proved positive for cocaine substance.

Sumaila, who worked with a construction firm in Spain, confessed to swallowing 80 pellets of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine. Within 24 hours Sumaila expelled the 80 pellets saying he was sent by one Jeff in Spain to come to Ghana and collect the substances for a fee of 3,000 Euro's.

Based on that, Jeff purchased a ticket for him and he obliged because he wanted to take the opportunity to visit his family in Ghana. On reaching Ghana, Sumaila said he received a call from someone to meet him at Kwame Nkrumah Circle and he obliged. On reaching the place, he said a man took him to his car and offered him the drugs which he (Sumaila) hid in a brown envelope.