'Goodies' arrested - over cocaine

Front Page: April 25, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Managing Director of Goodies Music Productions, Mr Isaac Abeidu Aidoo, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle pellets of cocaine to London.
He was arrested while going through departure formalities at the Kotoka International Airport about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.
He was said to have requested to be allowed to commit suicide, since he could not bear the humiliation associated with the exposition in the media relating to his arrest and prosecution.
He had allegedly swallowed 80 thumb-size pellets of cocaine, which he claimed had been given to him at East Legon by someone he identified only as Abdul.
At the time of filing this report, Aidoo had expelled 39 of the pellets.
Three others, said to be couriers — Mohammed Yakubu, Othniel Oppong Boansi and Philip Asiedu Kissi — are also in custody for attempting to smuggle various quantities of cocaine to Europe between April 21 and 22, 2008.
Confirming Aidoo’s arrest to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Mr Francis Amoah, said operatives of NACOB had suspected Aidoo to be carrying drugs and subsequently isolated him for further questioning.
He said the suspect initially denied carrying drugs but an X-ray examination on him revealed that he had swallowed foreign materials.
According to him, it was at that stage that Aidoo allegedly admitted to swallowing the 80 pellets.
Mr Amoah said Aidoo had claimed that he was introduced to the courier business in London by someone he again identified only as William who promised to pay him £3,000 on successful delivery.
The PRO said when the operatives went to Abdul’s residence at East Legon, they were told that he had relocated from the house two weeks before.
With regard to Mohammed Yakubu, the PRO said the suspect, a Ghanaian based in Ireland, was arrested on April 21, 2008 for swallowing 10 pellets of cocaine.
He said the suspect had claimed the drugs were for his use and not for sale.
He said Oppong Boansi, a Ghanaian holding an American passport, expelled 53 pellets of cocaine he said he intended sending to a friend in Italy.
He said the suspect had claimed that the friend, Derrick Boateng, had left the previous day and promised to pay him 3,000 euros on successful delivery of the drugs to him in Italy.
Mr Amoah said Kissi expelled 74 pellets of cocaine after his arrest on April 22, 2008.
He said Kissi had been also arrested while going through departure formalities at the airport.
The PRO explained that all the suspects have been remanded in custody pending further investigations.