The Principal State Attorney handling the case of the two Nigerian businessmen, who were arrested by officials of the Narcotics Control Board for allegedly importing 200 kilogrammes of cocaine, prayed an Accra Fast Track High Court for a two-week adjournment yesterday.
Mr. Asiamah Sarpong, the prosecutor, informed the court that they could not commence the matter because they were yet to receive reports from the Ghana Standards Authority concerning the exact substance that was seized from the accused persons.
The two accused persons, James Eleke Chukwu and Sunny Ikechukwu Benji Eke, were on February 26, 2013 brought before the court to be remanded to enable the police complete their investigations.
The prosecution, which is ready to start the case, is currently waiting for the confirmation of the field test of the said substance alleged to be cocaine with a street value of $12 million dollars, according to Mr. Asiamah.
The lawyers for the accused persons, ACP Retired K.K Amoah and Emmanuel Effah Annan representing James Eleke Chukwu and Sunny Ikechukwu Benji Eke, respectively did not object to the submission of the state attorney.
Mr. Annan however stated that he was bothered about the slow pace at which the case was proceeding and pleaded with Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh, the trial judge, to instruct the prosecution to expedite the trial.
He told the court that his client, Eke has serious medical conditions.
He was surprised that the prosecution had failed to establish the exact seized substance after publicly stating the alleged drug and its street value in court and the media.
Mr. Amoah backed the views of his colleague and added that Narcotics Control Boards should be informed to expedite their investigations.
The two accused persons are standing trial on two counts of engaging in criminal conspiracy and importation of narcotic drug without lawful authority.
Sunny, who was allegedly arrested with 62 boxes containing 372 bottles of a liquid substance suspected to be narcotic, was additionally charged with possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority. Their plea has not been taken.
The Principal State Attorney, Asiamah Sampong, briefing the court, stated that in December 2012, the Narcotic Control Board through its foreign counterparts received intelligence report that a cargo containing a quantity of cosmetics from Bolivia to Tema Port had narcotic drug concealed in it.
The goods, which were consigned to a company called De-Consumable Lines Limited, according to the prosecutor, arrived on January 29, 2013 at the Tema Port.
As a result of the information, officers of the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) mounted surveillance on the cargo in a 40-footer container No. MRK 25748-45 GI belonging to MAERSK line shipping company.
Investigations led to the arrest of James at Aplaku Junction near Weija when he allegedly attempted to take delivery of the cargo.
During interrogation, James allegedly mentioned Sunny as the owner of the container.
James said in December 2012 Sunny came to him with import documents of the cargo which was then on the high seas from Bolivia to Tema Port but had no knowledge it contained drugs.
The prosecutor disclosed that on February 21, 2013, James identified Sunny to the NACOB operatives at the Accra Mall after he was lured into the country from Nigeria.
During interrogation, Sunny, who was subsequently arrested, allegedly admitted importing the cargo of cosmetic with James and two others at large but blamed James and the others for concealing the cocaine in the cargo.
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