Mbanasokizito Chibuzo, a Sierre Leonian, was on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Idrissa Fafa Mbye of Brikama Magistrate’s Court, charged for drug peddling (four wraps of cocaine). He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his evidence-in-chief, Babucarr Jallow, the first witness and also a Narcotic Officer from the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), said on 22 February 2007, while on duty at Bakoteh Tippa Garage, a taxi driver informed him that he had disembarked a passenger whom he suspected of being in possession of something illegal.

According to him, he then rushed after the man and confronted him. ‘‘The suspect immediately threw a small handbag which I picked up and searched and in the bag I found 4 (four) wraps of cocaine. I then arrested him on the spot and took him to Serrekunda Police Station, where he was charged accordingly,’ he told the court.

The case was at this juncture, adjourned to March 18t, 2007 to call in more witnesses. NDEA was represented by Abdoulie Ceesay, a Narcotic Officer.