A US Army Major, Kojo Owusu Dartey at Fort Liberty station, is guilty by a federal jury for several offenses, including dealing in firearms without a license, smuggling goods from the US, and illegally exporting firearms without permission. He also faces charges of making false statements to a US agency and conspiracy. Dartey, at age 42, could be face a sentence to a maximum of 240 months on July 23, 2024. The firearms were hid in blue barrels of rice and household items and smuggled to Ghana.
US Attorney Michael Easley.said:
“We are partnering with law enforcement agencies across the globe to expose international criminals – from money launderers to rogue international arms traffickers capable of fueling violence abroad,”
“Through a partnership with Ghanaian officials, this rogue Army Major is facing conviction at trial after smuggling guns to Ghana in blue barrels of rice and household goods.
“I want to thank the Ghana Revenue Authority and the International Cooperation Unit Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana for their assistance in the investigation. I also commend the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) attachés to U.S. Embassy Accra and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division for their significant assistance to this prosecution.”
“Far from being a victimless crime, firearms trafficking threatens public safety across our nation and beyond,” said Toni M. Crosby, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Division. “The Baltimore Field Division is proud to partner with the Ghana Revenue Authority and ATF’s Charlotte and Louisville Field Divisions for this investigation, which has kept firearms off the streets — preventing them from being used in any number of killings and other crimes — and ended this international firearm trafficking scheme.”
Further on this story
Between June 28 and July 2, 2021, Dartey bought firearms in Fort Liberty and had a Staff Sergeant purchase more in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, sending them to him in North Carolina. He hid the firearms in blue barrels under rice and household items and smuggled them to Ghana. The Ghana Revenue Authority discovered the guns and reported it. Dartey was also involved in a marriage fraud case. Michael Easley, US Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the verdict, investigated by ATF, Army CID, and Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement, and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz with technical assistance from David Ryan of DOJ.
Read Also: Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Smuggling Cocoa [Photos]
