56-year-old Nigerian man Augustine Anwuasoanya, alias Keeten Kojo, who was arraigned before Buganda Road Court chief magistrate, James Ereemye, pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotic drugs in Uganda.
The suspect who was arraigned on two count charge of unlawful possession of narcotic drugs and trafficking in narcotic drugs, said “…your worship the allegations are correct”.
The state counsel, Mr Jonathan Muwaganya, who asked for a custodial sentence to the convicted holder of Nigeria passport No. 07269663, who between September 11 and 17 at Entebbe International Airport in Wakiso District without lawful excuse, had in his possession narcotic drugs (2.088 kilograms cocaine), a prohibited drug under the Narcotic Drug and psychotropic Substance Control Act of 2016, told the court that the offences the convict committed are rampant and a threat to people’s lives.
Mr Muwaganya futher argued that in absence of a certificate of the market value of such drugs, court cannot sentence a person to a fine. So in the convict’s case, a custodial sentence is the only available option.
The suspect who was traveling to Brazil via Togo, Ethiopia with Entebbe as trial destination and reportedly entered Uganda using a fake Ghana passport, was intercepted at Entebbe International Airport aboard Ethiopia airways on September 11.
He was intercepted by intelligence on ground that he had ingested some narcotic drugs. The convict was arrested and subjected to observation by aviation police, until evening when he passed drug pellets.It is further stated that all the pellets tested positive for cocaine at the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL).
Daily Monitor Uganda reported that on the count of trafficking in narcotics, it was stated that on the same dates and place, the convict without lawful excuse imported to Uganda narcotic drugs. The presiding magistrate Ereemye adjourned the matter to May 8 for sentencing.
This is coming after a 56-year-old woman and mother of four, Modinat Owolabi, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for cocaine trafficking.
