A South African national has been sentenced to a total of 130 years in prison after being convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges involving more than five kilograms of cocaine at Sierra Leone’s main international airport.
Delivering judgment at the High Court in Freetown on Thursday, Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson found 37-year-old Asandra Denise guilty on five counts related to the unlawful possession, importation, transportation, collection and dealing of prohibited drugs.
Court records revealed that Denise, a resident of Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, was arrested at Freetown International Airport in Lungi after authorities discovered 365 pellets of cocaine weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms in her possession without lawful authority.
The prosecution charged her under provisions of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the court held that the evidence presented by the prosecution overwhelmingly established her guilt.
During the trial, three prosecution witnesses testified, including forensic toxicologist Joseph Lahai, who told the court that laboratory analysis conducted on samples taken from the seized substance confirmed the presence of cocaine hydrochloride.
Defence lawyer Ibrahim Samba informed the court that his client chose to rely on her statement to police after the defence opted not to call any witnesses.
In his ruling, Justice Johnson described the prosecution’s evidence as credible, consistent and unshaken during cross-examination. He noted that the accused’s denial failed to undermine the weight of the evidence presented against her.
“The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge ruled before convicting Denise on all five counts.
The court imposed sentences of 10 years for unlawful possession of prohibited drugs and 30 years each for dealing, collecting, importing and transporting prohibited drugs, bringing the cumulative sentence to 130 years.
However, Justice Johnson ordered that all sentences run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve them at the same time, with the prison term taking effect from the date she was first remanded in custody.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the cocaine and all related exhibits to the State and directed that the narcotics be destroyed under the supervision of the relevant authorities.
The conviction marks another significant ruling in Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking through its borders.
