Two men have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each after a Nalerigu court found them guilty of possessing large quantities of the restricted drug tramadol.
The convicts, Mumuni Iddrisu and Alhassan Braimah, were arrested at Gbintiri near Nalerigu on September 18 during a police and Narcotics Control Commission operation. They were found with 100 boxes of tramadol hydrochloride, each containing 120mg tablets, and more than 4,500 packs of the drug concealed in 25 yellow gallons.
The two pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit crime and possession of restricted drugs without lawful authority when they appeared before the Nalerigu Circuit Court on September 26. Four others arrested with them were discharged after investigations showed they were not linked to the crime.
Justice Francis Asobayire, who presided over the case, sentenced each man to 10 years in prison on two counts. They were also fined 5,000 penalty units, equivalent to 60,000 Ghana cedis. In default of payment, they will serve an additional 10 years in prison.
The convicts have been transferred to Gambaga local prison to begin their sentences.
Police commended the people of the North East Region, especially the Nalerigu Youth Association, for their cooperation during the operation. They also warned individuals involved in the illicit drug trade to stop, stressing that offenders will face the full force of the law.
