The attention of the Ghana High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has been
drawn to a publication on PeaceFM Online, (culled from The Enquirer
newspaper) about the arrest of a Ghanaian in Malaysia for drug
trafficking.
The Mission wishes to confirm that the Ghanaian, Steve Opoku, a native
of Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, was indeed arrested by the Malaysian
authorities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for attempting to
smuggle 1700g of Methamphetamine (an illicit narcotic drug) into that
country in April 2011.
Even though Mr. Steve Opoku is now on trial and has not yet been
convicted, it is worth noting that under Malaysia’s dangerous Drug Act,
anyone caught trafficking narcotics into the country faces the mandatory
death sentence if convicted.
Currently, there is one (1) Ghanaian who was convicted of drug
trafficking in Malaysia in 2003 and is currently on death row (fourteen
years after his arrest and conviction).
The Ghana High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, therefore wishes to use this
opportunity to once again caution all Ghanaians traveling into
Malaysia (and indeed into most countries in South East Asia) that the
fight against trafficking of narcotics is taken very very seriously and
that the Mission is not in a position to plead for any mitigation of
sentences for drug related offenses.
Ghanaians are therefore being advised to beware of the operations of
drug barons operating within the West Africa sub-region who use innocent
and unsuspecting people as couriers for the drug trade. Travelers to
Malaysia, Thailand and other South East Asian countries are advised to
ensure the safety and sanctity of their luggage for their own safety.
Ghana High Commission Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
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