South African woman sentenced to 130 years imprisonment for cocaine trafficking in Sierra Leone

The High Court of Sierra Leone presided by Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson, has sentenced a 37-year-old South African woman, Asandra Denise, to 130 years’ imprisonment for offences relating to the unlawful possession, transportation, and importation of cocaine.

The convict, a resident of Nenvonds in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was arraigned before the High Court on a five-count indictment, including Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Drugs, Dealing in Prohibited Drugs, Collecting Prohibited Drugs, Importing Prohibited Drugs, and Transporting Prohibited Drugs. 

The charges were brought pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 7(b) and (c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008). 

The charges were brought pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 7(b) and (c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).

According to the particulars of offence, the accused was apprehended at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, in the North-West Region of Sierra Leone, after being found in possession of Three Hundred and Sixty-Five (365) pellets of cocaine weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms, without lawful authority.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

During the trial, the Prosecution called three witnesses, including a Forensic Toxicologist, Joseph Lahai, who testified that samples taken from the exhibits—amounting to 10.5 grams—were subjected to laboratory analysis and tested positive for Cocaine Hydrochloride.

Counsel for the Defence, Ibrahim Samba Esq., informed the Court that, following consultation with his client and in the absence of defence witnesses, the accused elected to rely on her statement made to the police.

Closing the Prosecution’s case, I.A. Kamara Esq. applied to tender the ex-officio information under the hand of the learned Attorney General, pursuant to Section 153(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024 (Act No. 8 of 2024).

In his judgment, Honourable Justice Johnson held that the Prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt. 

He described the evidence of the Prosecution witnesses as credible, consistent, and unshaken under cross-examination, noting that the mere denial by the accused was insufficient to rebut the weight of the evidence presented.

“I am satisfied that the Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Justice Johnson ruled, before finding the accused guilty on all five counts.

The Court imposed the following sentences: 

Count One (Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Drugs): 10 years’ imprisonment.

Count Two (Dealing in Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment.

Count Three (Collecting Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment.

Count Four (Importing Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment.

Count Five (Transporting Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment.

The Court, however, ordered that all sentences shall run concurrently, effective from the date of the convict’s remand in custody.

Additionally, Justice Johnson ordered that the cocaine and all related exhibits be forfeited to the State and directed that the narcotic substances be destroyed in the presence of the appropriate authorities.