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British girls due in Ghana court British girls in court over drugs
(30 minutes later)
Two British girls accused of attempting to smuggle cocaine into the UK from Ghana are due to appear in court in the West African state. Two British girls charged with smuggling cocaine from Ghana have appeared in court in the African state.
Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both aged 16, have been held in cells for more than two weeks. Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both aged 16, have been held in cells since being arrested on 2 July.
The students, from north London, are due to make their first appearance in a juvenile court in the capital, Accra. The students, from north London, made their first appearance on Wednesday in a juvenile court in the capital, Accra.
They deny both the illegal possession of drugs and attempting to smuggle more than 6kg of cocaine into the UK. Both deny the charges of possessing and attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK and will enter formal pleas when their trial begins on 26 July.
With no agreement currently in place for an exchange of prisoners between Britain and the west African country, the two accused face at least 10 years in jail in Ghana if found guilty.
Transit pointTransit point
The pair were arrested as they tried to board a plane in Accra, allegedly carrying drugs said to be worth about £300,000. The pair were arrested as they tried to board a plane in Accra, allegedly carrying 6kg of cocaine said to be worth about £300,000.
The pair say they were not aware of drugs in their luggage and had been tricked into carrying them. They say they were not aware of drugs in their luggage and had been tricked into carrying them.
The trial itself is likely to begin in about two weeks.
With no agreement currently in place for an exchange of prisoners between Britain and Ghana, the two accused face at least 10 years in jail in the West African state if found guilty.
Ghana and the West African region as a whole have become a major transit point for drugs from South America destined for Europe.Ghana and the West African region as a whole have become a major transit point for drugs from South America destined for Europe.
British customs officials are now working with their Ghanaian counterparts to intercept drug smugglers and, since late last year, more than £30m-worth of cocaine has been seized en route to Britain from Ghana.British customs officials are now working with their Ghanaian counterparts to intercept drug smugglers and, since late last year, more than £30m-worth of cocaine has been seized en route to Britain from Ghana.
But the two British students are the first minors to be provisionally charged with drug smuggling in Ghana since the co-operation began.But the two British students are the first minors to be provisionally charged with drug smuggling in Ghana since the co-operation began.
Yasemin is the daughter of immigrants from Cyprus, while Yatunde is of Nigerian descent. Both are UK citizens.Yasemin is the daughter of immigrants from Cyprus, while Yatunde is of Nigerian descent. Both are UK citizens.
Fair Trials Abroad is working to ensure the girls have proper legal representation in Ghana and is providing support to their families in the UK.Fair Trials Abroad is working to ensure the girls have proper legal representation in Ghana and is providing support to their families in the UK.