Ghana society big babe, Nayele Ametefeh, sentenced to 8 years in prison for drug trafficking

One of Ghana's biggest society babes, Nayele Ametefeh, who was arrested sometime last year in the United Kingdom while trying to smuggle 12'5 kilograms of cocaine into the country, has been sentenced to 8 years and 8 months imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to the charges read to her at the Isleworth Crown Court in London.

The cocaine trafficked by the 32-year-old Ghanaian/Austrian socialite, according to Ghana's Joy FM, had a 78% purity and a street value of 1.872 million pounds.

The prosecutors told the court that Nayele had $23,000 and an additional 6,000 Pounds in her handbag when she was arrested. The money was payment for her courier services.

According to the prosecutors, Nayele Ametefeh, whose brazen act shocked even the most notorious daredevil, was carting the cocaine to South America.

Her travel itinerary, the court was told, indicated that she was leaving the United Kingdom two days after her arrival, for the Dominican Republic. The 12 kilograms of cocaine was, therefore, not meant to be consumed in the UK.

The lady who is said to be one of Ghana's most popular celebrity, was arrested alongside Accra based top businessman Alhaji Dawood, Nana Akuah Amponsah, Sadalia Sandra Nuhu as well as 3 officials of the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, who were her accomplices.

Nayele Ametefe was sentenced on her own plea of guilt after she everything she tried to be let off the hook proved abortive.

In his submission for mitigation, lawyer for Nayele told the court she came from an underprivileged home and married a spare parts dealer at Ghana's famous spare-parts market, Abossey Okai.

She has three children, the first being 16 years old. Her marriage broke down and she has been a single mother.

According to the lawyer, Nayele came in contact with powerful people in 2004 and her life changed dramatically. She travelled extensively with influential people as their companion.

The lawyer said Nayele has remained connected to powerful people in authority who are currently in power in Ghana.

She was forced by circumstances to engage in transporting drugs to support her newly attained high-class lifestyle and to take care of her three children, the lawyer said.

However, Nayele would not disclose the identities of her handlers, claiming concerns over the safety of her children, should she do so.

After listening to both prosecution and defence counsel, the court convicted her to 8 years and 8 months' imprisonment.

The other accused persons are currently facing prosecution charges in Ghana for the role they played in aiding Nayele Ametefe to transport 12kg cocaine into the UK.