Did NACOB lie?

0

nacob_bossA statement released by British High Commission this morning 21 November 2014 indicate that, UK authorities had no prior knowledge of the intentions of Ms Nayele Ametefeh before flying from Accra to London on 9/10 November.

Read full statement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/british-high-commission-statement

The British High Commission in Accra’s statement following a report by The Chronicle newspaper on 20th November 2014

With regard to a report in The Chronicle newspaper on 20 November, the British High Commission (BHC) wishes to clarify the following points;

  • UK authorities have been working closely with Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) since 2006;
  • UK authorities had no prior knowledge of the intentions of Ms Nayele Ametefeh before flying from Accra to London on 9/10 November;
  • Ms Ametefeh?s case is an ongoing police investigation and as such we will not be commenting on the details;
  • Questions relating to the use of the VIP Lounge at Kotoka International Airport should be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are responsible for the management of this facility;
  • 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 prevention of drug trafficking remains a high priority for the UK and we look forward to continued close collaboration with Ghana.

On 17 November, 2014, NACOB released a statement saying:

One Ms. Nayele Ametefe was arrested on the 10th of November, 2014 through the collaborative effort of Narcotics Control Board and its British partners.

On the 9th November, 2014 one Ms. Nayele Ametefe boarded British Airways flight Number BA 078 from Accra to London. She was arrested at Heathrow International Airport.

She had flown on a first class ticket using travel miles on British Airways point.

The ticket had been purchased on 8th October, 2014 and had been altered three times.

In her possession she had two suit cases. Only one of the suitcases was checked in Baggage tag number BA 059801 and nothing of interest was found.

In the other suitcase which was believed to be hand carried onto the plane, 10kgs of cocaine was found among her clothing. The cocaine were wrapped in one (1) kilo blocks whiles in her hand bag, she had further two (2) kilos in blocks.

It is worthy to note that Ms. Nayele Ametefe traveled on Austrian Passport Number P4187659 and not Ghanaian Diplomatic passport as being speculated.

She also had in her possession an ordinary Ghanaian Passport Number G0364497 issued on 3rd August 2012.
Investigations are still ongoing.

Richard Nii Lante Blankson,

Deputy Executive Secretary (E&C)

Narcotics Control Board, Ghana

Story by Makafui Delalie

 

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here