The Accra High Court has sentenced two individuals to a combined 30 years in prison for their roles in an illegal gold smuggling operation. According to a Graphic Online report, the convicts were found guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime and the illegal exportation of minerals without a valid license. The court presided over by Justice Mary Ekue Yanzuh handed down 15 year sentences to each individual as part of a move to deter similar economic crimes.
A Daily Guide Network report identifies the convicted individuals as suspects who were intercepted at the Kotoka International Airport. The prosecution stated that the two individuals were caught with approximately 7.5 kilograms of unprocessed gold concealed in their luggage. This discovery was the result of a coordinated intelligence operation involving the National Signal Bureau and the Economic and Organised Crime Office according to official court proceedings.
The Attorney General Department provided evidence during the trial that the gold was intended for export to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. A GhanaWeb report indicates that the convicts did not have the required documentation from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company or the Minerals Commission to transport the gold out of Ghana. The court heard that the gold was valued at several thousands of dollars and belonged to a larger organized crime syndicate.
During the sentencing phase, the presiding judge emphasized the economic damage caused by the smuggling of natural resources. According to a Citi Newsroom report, the defense counsel had pleaded for a more lenient sentence, but the court maintained that the statutory minimum for such offenses under the Minerals and Mining Act must be upheld. The gold has since been confiscated by the state as part of the final judgment delivered at the High Court in Accra.