Nigerian Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking
A 32-year-old Nigerian national, Pascal Okafor Ezugwu, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term by an Accra High Court after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 90 thumb-sized cocaine pellets weighing 1.54 kg.
On Friday, May 3, 2024, Mr. Okafor Ezugwu was handed a minimum sentence of 10 years with hard labor and was fined ten thousand penalty units. In the event of default, he would serve an additional three years in prison.
The court also ordered the destruction of the seized cocaine, which was to be supervised by all interested stakeholders in the presence of the court registrar, state prosecutors, and the defense counsel.
The facts of the matter indicate that Mr. Okafor Ezugwu was arrested on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, by officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) at Kotoka International Airport. He was subsequently apprehended while going through pre-boarding formalities at the departure hall to board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
A urine test conducted on him revealed traces of narcotic substances.
Subsequently, under observation by officers, he expelled a total of 90 thumb-sized pellets, which tested positive for cocaine.
He was detained and later charged with three counts of narcotic offenses including unlawful possession, attempted exportation of narcotic drugs, and money laundering.
Mr. Ezugwu was arraigned before the Criminal Court Division of the Accra High Court, where he pleaded guilty to all charges and was consequently convicted on his own plea.
NACOC has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the public from the trafficking and use of illicit drugs emphasizing that the possession, usage, and transportation of illegal drugs without lawful authorization remained prohibited under sections 40 (1) and 41 (1) of Act 1019 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020.
NACOC has thus urged the general public to be aware of the severe consequences and risks associated with such activities.
