NEW YORK: A Ghanaian man has been extradited to United States to face charges he was the leader of a Ghana-based drug ring that sent more than 10 million dollar of heroin into New York city, US officials announced.

Evan Attah, as well as Elizabeth Manu-Owusu, were extradited on Thursday and pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute heroin into the U.S. in 2004 and 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Attah used couriers, including Manu-Owusu, who would ingest the heroin and smuggle it into the U.S. via London, said the office.

Both were arrested by Ghanaian Narcotics officials in December, 2004.

If convicted both Attah and Manu-Owusu face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.