UK teen knew of drugs plan
2007-09-27 21:48
Accra - One of two British teenage girls being tried for drug trafficking in Ghana told the court on Thursday that she was "somehow aware of the deal" to smuggle cocaine back with them to Europe prior to their trip to the West African country, a court official says.
The 16-year-old students from London are accused of trying to smuggle nearly 6kg of cocaine home to England in computer cases.
They were arrested in July at the Accra airport and charged with drug possession and trafficking.
The court official spoke on condition of anonymity because Ghanaian laws do not permit the release of juvenile court proceedings to the media.
He said the other defendant had maintained her innocence since cross-examination began last week.
British customs officials had previously said they believed the girls had been recruited in London before leaving on their African vacation.
West Africa is increasingly becoming a transit point for drugs headed to Europe. Cocaine, mostly from Colombia, is brought on small planes and dropped on islands off the coast, then distributed to couriers who carry it into Europe.
British and Ghanaian officials began collaborating last year after the number of drug-related arrests at London airports linked to West African flights surged.
- AP