2 Trans-Border Smugglers Docked For Importing 320kg Indian Hemps Into Nigeria
The National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned a Ghanaian, Happy Allormasor and a Togolese, Kobia Takpa, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for smuggling 320 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Indian hemps into the country from Ghana.
The two alleged Indian hemp smugglers were arraigned before Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel’s court, on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful importation and illegal procurement of the banned weed into the country.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, are contrary to and punishable under sections 14(b), 21(2)(d), 20(1)(a) and 19 of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The two accused, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After the pleas of the accused have been taken, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, order that the two accused be remanded in prison custody, pending when their bail application will be entertained.
The matter has been adjourned till November 14, for continuation of trial.
During the arraignment before the court, the prosecutor, Ibrahim told the court that the two accused persons, had in April 24, 2018, conspired with Mauko, who is also known as Shorty and Mesan, also known as Mesmian, who are also Ghanaians, to unlawfully smuggle the said banned weeds to Nigeria from Ghana, through Aivoji Beach in Badagry.
The prosecutor also told the court that the arrest of the two Indian hemp’s smugglers was led by the NDLEA Seme Border Commandant, Mr. Udo Utong, with the assistance of the Nigeria-Ghana Joint Task Force.
During the trial of the two accused, after their plea had been taken, the first prosecution witness, Mr. Idris Ibrahim Mohammed, told narrated before the court, how the dreaded drug couriers were trailed and arrested.
Mohammed, an exhibit keeper with the NDLEA, Seme Border Command while being led in evidence-in-chief by the prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim, told Justice Ayoola that he knows the two defendants.
The witness added that sometimes on April 24, 2018 , the second defendant, Cobra Takpa was brought to him in his office with some substance and that he was asked to conduct text on the substance adding that the results of the text proved positive to cannabis sativa ( marijuana), in a jumbo sacks weighed 320 kilograms.
The witness further said that on May 11, 2018 the first accused, Allormasor was also brought to him and that he was asked to re-conduct the same text he did in the case of the second defendant and that this he did in the presence of the defendant.
Following his testimony, the prosecution tendered the certificate of text analysis, packing of substance forms, request for scientific aid form, large brown envelope containing the forensic reporting the drug analysis and transparent pouch containing results of the text analysis and this were admitted in evidence.
The prosecution also tendered the sum of N185,900 found on Allormasor was also tendered in evidence.
The second prosecution witness, Xavia Vincent Oluwasegun in his own evidence said that on April 24, 2018, they got a report that some people were off loading some substance suspected to be cannabis and that a team lead by one Musa Khalid an operative of the anti-graft narcotics agency drove to the village called Aivoji Beach Side and saw about six able bodied men discharging the substance from the boat and that they were able to arrest, Kobo as others jump into the Lagoon.
The witness added that the first defendant , Allormasor was arrested at a later date while driving around Seme border area in his Nissan Pathfinder Jeep.
