Ghana between months has recorded three different occasions of alleged gold robberies running into millions United States dollars at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The latest of these robberies, involves 75 kilos of gold valued US$4,303,234.00.

Surprisingly, individuals allegedly involved in what can be qualified as trans-border crime includes a 36-year-ols Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) officer, Emmanuel Dwamena.

Others allegedly involved were Abdul Karim Lakoh, 38 and a businessman, Seth Dzamesi, 43 and a businessman and George Asamoah at large.

Abdul Karim Lakoh is a Sierra Leoneon whilst the other three are Ghanaians.

The three had been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing but say they are innocent of the offences.

They were charged before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Adelaide Abui Keddy today.

The court has remanded them into police custody to reappear on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Giving the background of the case, prosecuting officer Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Evans Kesse told Her Honour Abui Keddy that the complainants in the case are Abdallah Ali, Farhad Sami and Zev Volf, citizens of United Arab Emirates and Australia respectively. 

He said Abdul Karim Lakoh is a Sierra Leonean, Seth Dzamesi claimed to be a businessman and  resides at Tantra Hills, Emmanuel Dwamena, a customs officer residing at Kasoa and George Asamoah is at large. 

According to him, in the month of March 2023, the complainants went to Sierra Leone to buy Gold and  Abdul was among the people who sold the gold to the complaints.

The prosecutor added that Abdul promises the complainants that he will to assist them to transit through Ghana to Dubai with the gold.

So on March 16, 2023, the complainants and Abdul arrived in Ghana at the Kotoka International Airport with Sky Airline with their personal belongings including the 75 kilos of gold bars. 

He narrated to the court that when the complainants landed at Kotoka International Airport, Abdul managed to come out from the arrival hall and contacted George, who is now at large on cell phone 0269736510.

Additionally, George came to the Airport in a black Range Rover vehicle to pick Abdul out of the arrival hall.

DSP Kesse said Abdul and George also met Seth who was using customs branded Toyota Hilux pickup with registration number GX 8386-17 and stole the bag containing the 75kg of the gold bars and kept it in the Toyota pickup. 

He added that whilst the complainants were at the transit arrival hall, an Immigration officer sneaked the complainants from the arrival hall and handed them over to Emmanuel at the departure hall.

Emmanuel also drove the complaints to a suppose customs bonded warehouse with House No. 18 Shamo Kwei Avenue at East Legon in Accra to meet Seth.

The prosecutor informed the court that Seth who posed as customs officer took charge of the bag containing the 75 kilos of gold bars  and sent it to his office.

DSP Kesse said Seth after allegedly taking possession of the gold forced the complainants out of his office.
Emmanuel drove the complainants back to Airport and abandoned them at the Airport. 

The court further heard that at the Airport, Abdul attempted to escape but he was arrested and handed to Airport Police Station for investigation. 

The prosecuting officer added that further background checks on Abdul indicates that the whole gold scandal started in Sierra Leone and with the help of Emmanuel and George who happen to their Ghanaian accomplices. 

As a result, DSP Kesse stated that accused persons succeeded in stealing the gold bars from Kotoka International Airport. 

He added that Abdul, Seth and Emmanuel admitted the offence in their cautioned statement that they hatched the plan from Sierra Leone and with the assistance of Ghanaian accomplices to steal the gold. 

The court was told that efforts are being made to arrest their accomplices.