General News of Thursday, 10 May 2007

Source: GERTRUDE ANKAH (GO)

Three Arrested With Cocaine At KIA

Three Ghanaians suspected of possession of narcotic drugs, suspected to be cocaine were arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) last week.

The three suspects are Daniel Opoku Amoateng, 46, Thomas Ampontuah,55 and Eben Finny Mensah, 27.

Reports reaching GO indicate that Daniel Opoku Amoateng arrived at the airport to board an Alitalia flight to Milan and whilst he was going through departure formalities he was suspected of carrying narcotic drugs in his stomach due to his strange movement and demeanour.

He was subsequently arrested and sent to 37 Military hospital and subjected to x- ray examination where the result of the x- ray examination proved positive that he had swallowed foreign material suspected to be cocaine.

Sources at KIA told this paper that a search in his shoes also revealed a quantity of powdery substance..

The sources added that on interrogation, Opoku Amoateng confessed having swallowed 60 thumb size pellets of cocaine and that he bought the cocaine from one Georgina Amoakohene.

The suspect has expelled all the pellets but is still under observation.

In the case of the second suspect, Thomas Ampontuah, he arrived at the airport to board a KLM flight to Holland.

According to our sources, whilst he was going through departure formalities he was suspected of carrying narcotic drugs in his stomach due to his strange movement and demeanour.

Ampontuah was arrested and sent to 37 military hospital and subjected to x- ray examination which result also proved positive that the suspect had swallowed foreign materials.

On interrogation, he confessed as having swallowed 50 thumb size pellets of cocaine and that they were given to him by one Abu in Ghana to be delivered to someone in Holland for a fee of 2000 Euros. Thomas has so far expelled 45 pellets.

The 27-year Eben Finney, who also arrived at KIA to board a KLM flight to Spain, whilst going through departure formalities was suspected and arrested and also sent to the 37 military hospital.

He was subjected to x- ray examination which also result proved positive.

GO learnt he also confessed to having swallowed 90 thumb size pellets of cocaine and that they were given to him by one Kofi to be delivered to someone in Spain for a fee of 2500 Euros. He has so far expelled 77 pellets.

All three suspects are still under observation and awaiting necessary charges and prosecution.