Accra, June 7, GNA- A 52-year-old German businessman was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years=92 imprisonment with hard labour by the Greater Regional Tribunal for dealing in cocaine.

Eugene Guther Bruno Frit Schellhardt pleaded not guilty to possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

The Court presided over by Mr Justice Frank Manu found him guilty after an eight-month trial.

The case as presented by Mr Frederick Boamah, an Assistant State Attorney, was that Schellhardt on October 5, 2005 arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to board British Airways Flight to London. Mr Boamah said when Schelldhardt was going through departure formalities; personnel of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) on duty at the airport suspected him and invited him for screening and he was asked to remove the pair of black canvas he was wearing and he did. When Schelldart's shoes were inspected powdery substance was compressed in the sole of the shoes.

Mr Boamah said a field test conducted in the presence of Schellhardt tested positive of cocaine.

He claimed that the shoes were given to him by one Ben to be delivered in London for a fee of 3,000 pounds. Mr Boamah said Schellhardt, however, failed to tell the Police where the said Ben was.

In another development, the same court convicted a 45 year old Nigerian trader to the 10 years=92 imprisonment with hard labour for possessing 292 grams of heroine.

Morenkeji Nofisat Hammed pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Mr Boamah said Hammed arrived at KIA on board Ethiopian Airline flight number 901 from Pakistan and while going through arrival formalities, NACOB personnel suspected her of carrying drugs and invited her for questioning.

A search revealed that he was carrying 292 grams of heroine.