Court remands estate developer in cocaine and heroin bust in Oyarifa
By DL News
Published
1 min read
Uchechukwu has been charged with unlawful possession of narcotics and using his property to facilitate drug-related activities. He pleaded not guilty through his lawyer, Paul Asibi Abariga.
An estate developer, Chima Uchechukwu, has been remanded by the Accra High Court following his arrest for the alleged possession of large quantities of illicit drugs at Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.
His arrest on March 18, 2025, was carried out by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), who reportedly discovered 192 slabs and 57 pellets of cocaine with purity levels ranging between 48.79% and 70.42%. A separate polybag containing heroin and morphine—also intended for trafficking—was seized, with purities of 18.65% and 17.57% respectively.
Uchechukwu has been charged with unlawful possession of narcotics and using his property to facilitate drug-related activities. He pleaded not guilty through his lawyer, Paul Asibi Abariga.
During the court session, Senior State Attorney Adama Watkins applied to substitute the existing charge sheet with an updated version. The defense challenged parts of the prosecution’s claims, insisting the accused had no prior warning or record, and that the money found during the arrest belonged to his wife. A formal application for bail is expected at the next hearing.
Prosecutors revealed that Uchechukwu had come under investigation after being linked to a drug trafficking network in 2023, which had earlier resulted in the conviction of two individuals—Pascal Okafor Ezugwu and Kenneth Uchenna—in 2024.
Although narcotics were not discovered at his primary residence during his arrest, large amounts of foreign and local currency—suspected to be proceeds from drug operations—were retrieved. Subsequent searches at a second location tied to him led to the discovery of cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics, all confirmed by the Ghana Standards Authority in an April 4, 2025, report.
According to the prosecution, Uchechukwu is believed to be a key figure in a broader criminal syndicate involved in drug trafficking. Authorities are continuing investigations into his assets and potential collaborators.
The case, which is being heard by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, has been adjourned to May 2, 2025.
