Accra, June 28, GNA - Lawrence Amankwaa, a Ghanaian based in Verona, Italy was on Wednesday put before an Accra Regional Tribunal for attempting to export 3,412 grammes of cocaine to Holland. Jointly charged with him was Kwadwo Oppong Manu, businessman and an accomplice.

Their plea was not taken and the tribunal chaired by Mr Frank Manu remanded them for two weeks to appear again on July 12. The facts were that on June 20, Amankwaa arrived at the Kotoka International Airport to board a KLM Flight to Holland.

The prosecution stated that while going through boarding formalities, security officers on duty found concealed in Amankwaa's attire, some whitish powdery substance suspected to be a narcotic drug. According to the prosecution, a field test conducted on the substance by officials of the Narcotics Control Board, proved positive for cocaine.

Amankwaa identified Oppong with whom he was travelling as his source of supply.

When he was arrested, Oppong denied any knowledge about the substance and told the security officers that he was only assisting Amankwaa to fill his immigration forms. The substance had been forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board for analytical examination, the prosecution concluded.