Ernest Nnajuiba Ukechukwu, a Nigerian citizen living in Brazil, was found guilty of attempting to smuggle a sizable amount of cocaine into Ghana.
Ukechukwu has been given a 10 year prison term with hard labor.
When he tried to enter Ghana with the cocaine, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) detained him at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
On December 11, 2022, while he was going through the KIA arrival procedures, NACOC officials detained Ukechukwu.
We conducted a thorough search of his luggage as a result of his suspicious behavior.
Amazingly, 16,568.83 grams of cocaine were found hidden in his possessions after the search.
Following the discovery, he was arrested and charged with six counts of drug offenses involving the importation of drugs and unlawful possession.
Ukechukwu entered a plea of guilty to all charges during the High Court proceedings in Accra.
Mary Ekue Yanzuh, the presiding judge, then found him guilty based on his plea.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison as well as a fine of 10,000 penalty units.
An additional three years will be spent in prison if the fine is not paid by the Nigerian.
The cocaine exhibit was destroyed on the day of the sentencing in front of the state’s attorneys, the defense attorney, and the court registrar, per the court’s directive.
