Unpublished Article (The case of 3 policemen in cocaine trial)

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
A prosecution witness in the case of the three policemen standing trial over the missing 76 parcels of cocaine, yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that, apart from the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), no other organization, body or individual has the right to import the narcotic substance into the country.

The witness, Mrs. Akua Owusua Amartey, Head of Tobacco and Substances of Abuse Department of the Food and Drugs Board FDB told the court that the board issues permit to the GSB to import the drugs for scientific and medical purposes

She was testifying before the court trying the policemen for their involvement in the disappearance of 76 parcels of the cocaine brought into the country on board by the MV Benjamin vessel.

The three, Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance Corporals Dwamena Yabson and Peter Bundorin. are said to have arrested Asem Darke, also known as Sheriff, the man wanted by the police for the importation of the cocaine, but left him off the hook after collecting an unspecified amount from him.

Another policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, escaped soon after he was granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court in September, last year.

The policemen, all with the Tema Regional Police Command, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer.

They are currently in police custody.

Continuing her evidence, Mrs Amartey who is the ninth Prosecution Witness said neither Sheriff, Dashment Company Linited, Atico Fisheries nor the accused persons were issued with a permit to import the cocaine.

She said they companies and the accused persons did not apply to import the drugs adding that "we do not issue permits to individuals, rather it is for organizations".

She told the court presided over by Justine Annin Yaboah of the court of Appeal that Ghana imports only 10 grammes of the substance annually and that was the quota given to her by the Interntional Narcotic Control Agency of the United Nations.

PW9 told the court that in 2005 the FDB issued premit to the GSB to import 430 grammes while in 2006, they premitted them to import 920 grammes.

She said apart from narcotic substance they also issues permit for the importation of psychotropic substances and other chemicals under very strict conditions.

PW9 further told the court that apart from cocaine, the FDB can issue permit to companies for the importation of other narcotic substances.

The court adjourned proceedings until April 17.