By: Audrey John
The accused Marcel Okechuku Zoro, a Nigerian national was before the court for Preliminary Investigation on four count charges of importation of class A drugs without license contrary to section 45(b) 9f the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.
It was alleged on the police charge sheet that on Thursday 23rd December 2021 at the Queen Elizabeth Quay II Cline Town, imported thirty seven cartoons of tramadol hydrochloride (Labeled new royal 225mg tablets) weighed 744.5kg from India to Sierra Leone without license and lawful authority.
Sergeant 9802 Pastor John Bangura attached to the transnational organized crime unit CID headquarters and said he recognized the accused person and recalled the 28th day of December 2021.
The witness said a combined team of police personnel from Tocu and officers from customs conducted hundred percent of Number Sub 7534178 at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay Cline Town Freetown before the 100% examination.
According to the witness, the accused person claimed that he owns the concept inside the container and cartoons were removed from the container, toilet sit, and wash hand basin. The witness continued that the cartoons were packed after the main door of the container and towards the end cartoons were also removed that contain huge tramadol.
He added that those cartoons were the same as cartoons removed from the container earlier that contain the toilet seat, and upon discovering the drugs at the end thirty seven cartoons of tramadol with prescription new royal 225mg.
He said the matter was allocated to him for further investigation and on the 6th of January 2022 along beach road Lumley accompany by DSP AEO arrested the accused person and on the 10th of February 2022 DSP AEO and himself interviewed the accused person was caution and question in English language and they recorded it in English the said caution statement was read and explained to the accused person which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumb print.
He said the accused person signed the said statement and DSP A.E.O sign as the recorder. The statement was in the custody of the police and was produce and tendered as exhibit A1-43.
During the interview the accused person produce documents claiming the invoice of the toilet seat and the said invoice was produce and tendered in court. The witness said the pharmacy board of Sierra Leone submitted the quality control of finality result of drugs they have in Sierra Leone.
On the 14th February 2022 scientific department which had the forensic examination at the Connaught Hospital submitted laboratory analysis suspected to be tramadol and was also tender in court on the 16th of February 2022. The witness said he charged the accused person with the offence of importation of Class A drug which has not been registered with the pharmacy board, and the said charge statement was produce and tendered as exhibit C1-4.
Counsel representing the accused person, Jessie M. Jengo renewed his previous Bail application on behalf of the accused person.
Magistrate Kekura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown, and matter adjourned to the 10th March 2022 for cross examination.
Assistant Superintendent of police Christiana Davies Cole is prosecuting the matter.