[ 2014-11-22 ]

Cocaine saga: We did not collaborate with NACOB - UK
The British High Commission in Accra has denied
collaborating with Ghana’s Narcotics Control
Board (NACOB) in a case in which one Ms Nayele
Ametefeh was arrested at the Heathrow Airport with
12.5 kilogrammes of cocaine.

According to a statement issued by the UK High
Commission in Accra Friday, the UK authorities had
no knowledge that Ms Ametetefeh was heading to the
UK with drugs.

“UK authorities had no prior knowledge of the
intentions of Nayele Ametefeh before flying from
Accra to London on 9/10 November,” the statement
read.

The High Commission said although the UK has been
collaborating with NACOB since 2006, the nature of
the partnership requires that potential drug
traffickers are prevented from boarding flights to
the UK in order to traffic drugs.

The statement said: “UK authorities work closely
with NACOB to ensure that, wherever possible, any
potential drug trafficker to the UK from Ghana is
arrested here in Ghana and not permitted to board
a flight in order to traffic drugs."

The High Commission declined to comment on claims
that the suspect used the VVIP section at the
Kotoko International Airport (KIA), noting that
Ghana's Forigin Affairs Ministry will be the best
body to address those claims.

It, however, stressed that it would continue to
work with Ghana to combat drug trafficking.

“The prevention of drug trafficking remains a
high priority for the UK and we look forward to
continued close collaboration with Ghana,” it
stated.

The statement calls into question assertions by
NACOB in a statement released early on in the week
that said it collaborated with UK officials in the
arrest.

The NACOB statement also claimed that UK
authorities anticipated the suspect's arrival.

Ms Ametefe was arrested on Monday, November 10,
2014, while going through arrival formalities at
the Heathrow Airport.

She had in her possession two suitcases, one of
which contained the drug.

Ms Ametefe left the KIA on November 9, 2014 on
board a British Airways flight number BA 078 from
Accra to London.

She is expected to appear in court in the UK on
27th November over the matter.

Source - Daily Graphic

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