Kilogrammes substance tests positive for cocaine

The 3,319.66 kilogrammes (3.3 tonnes) of substance, which are at the centre of a trial at the High Court, have been confirmed to be cocaine, a presumptive test from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has confirmed.

The substance, which was intercepted earlier this year, is worth over $350 million, the largest cocaine seizure in the country’s history.

Personnel of the GSA took random samples from three slabs of the 2,970 slabs of substance yesterday in the full glare of authorised officials.

The cobalt thiocyanate test was conducted in the presence of the trial judge, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, the state and the defence attorneys, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Narcotic Control Commission (NCC) in Accra yesterday.

The exercise follows an order for inspection, testing and destruction which was granted by the High Court in Accra, where three persons are currently standing trial on charges of allegedly importing drugs without lawful authority and engaging in prohibited narcotic business.

Pre-trial procedures
The test was not conducted in the courtroom because of the volume of the cocaine.

After the test at a security location, the court and the attorneys held pre-trial proceedings at the same location.

While the state attorney sought to tender the laboratory result of the samples conducted at the GSA through one of the laboratory personnel, counsel for the accused persons, Victor Adawudu, objected to the tendering of same.

He argued that since both parties had not completed the Case Management Conference (CMC), it was premature for the state to tender that document.

The argument was upheld by the trial judge.

Having taken samples in the presence of the parties for trial, the case was adjourned to June 24 this year.

The remaining exhibits will be destroyed on Friday, June 20, this year.

In March this year, the NIB intercepted a staggering 3.3 tonnes of substances, then suspected to be cocaine, with a street value of approximately $350 million.

The security officials found the cocaine concealed in sacks and bags cleverly hidden in heaps of sand in a tipper truck to evade detection.

However, the vigilant NIB operatives were able to uncover the illicit cargo, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against narcotics.

The tipper truck was arrested at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast in the Central Region en route to Accra.

The interception marked the largest cocaine seizure in the country’s history.

The driver of the truck, 39-year-old Isaac Quaicoo, and his mate, Kenneth Cobbinah, a 25-year-old tertiary level student, were arrested for investigation.

Also in the dock with them is Mawuku Kudufia.

Kelian Julien Mensah, Jefflean Kwadjo Ntow and Charles Hagan, who the state considers as prime suspects, are still on the run.