The Accra Circuit Court presided over by His Honor Isaac Addo remanded three individuals into police custody following their arrest over an alleged attempt to smuggle gold according to a report by Graphic Online. The suspects identified as Benjamin Garkpo and his accomplices appear before the court facing charges related to the illegal possession and attempted exportation of minerals without a valid license. The court proceedings revealed that the group intended to transport the precious metal through the Kotoka International Airport before security officials intervened during a routine check.
Court records as cited by GhanaWeb indicate that the gold weighed several kilograms and carried an estimated market value of approximately two million Ghana Cedis. Prosecutors informed the court that the suspects claimed to be acting on behalf of a gold trading firm but failed to provide the necessary documentation required by the Minerals Commission. The Ghana Police Service indicated that the investigation into the broader network behind the syndicate remains ongoing to identify potential collaborators within the aviation sector.
According to reports from Citi Newsroom the defense counsel requested bail for the accused persons arguing that they were merely intermediaries in the transaction. However the prosecution opposed the application citing the risk of interference with the ongoing investigation and the gravity of the economic offense against the state. The judge declined the bail application and ordered the suspects to be kept in custody until the next scheduled court hearing later this month as the state prepares its full evidence packet.
Officials from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company provided testimony regarding the purity and official valuation of the seized items during the initial hearing as reported by the Daily Graphic. Security at the Kotoka International Airport has been heightened following this incident as the Ghana Airports Company Limited seeks to curb the rising trend of mineral smuggling. The court has directed the prosecution to file all remaining witness statements and disclosures before the case resumes for trial.