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Jail terms for Ghana drug girls Jail terms for Ghana drug girls
(about 1 hour later)
Two British girls convicted of trying to smuggle cocaine from Ghana to the UK have been jailed for one year each.Two British girls convicted of trying to smuggle cocaine from Ghana to the UK have been jailed for one year each.
Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both 16 and from north London, were arrested at Accra International Airport on 2 July 2007. Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya, both 16 and from north London, were arrested at Kotoka International Airport in Accra on 2 July 2007.
They denied trying to smuggle 6kg (13lbs) of the drug to London.They denied trying to smuggle 6kg (13lbs) of the drug to London.
The sentencing judge gave them three months off for good behaviour. As they have already been in jail for seven months they will be released in April.The sentencing judge gave them three months off for good behaviour. As they have already been in jail for seven months they will be released in April.
It is unlikely they will serve all or part of their sentence in the UK as there is no transfer agreement between the UK and the west African country. It is unlikely the girls will serve all or part of their sentence in the UK as there is no transfer agreement between the UK and the west African country.
The pair were arrested under a joint operation set up a year ago between the UK and Ghana to combat drug smuggling.
Clear messageClear message
The girls had told the court that they were set up, but the prosecution said they were involved from the start in a plot to smuggle drugs. They told the court that they were set up, but the prosecution said they were involved from the start in a plot to smuggle drugs.
They were found guilty in November of drug possession and trafficking and will now be released on 18 April.They were found guilty in November of drug possession and trafficking and will now be released on 18 April.
The pair had faced prison terms of up to three years after they were caught under a joint operation set up between the UK and Ghana, a year ago, to combat drug smuggling.
So far "tens of millions of pounds of drugs" have been seized and stopped from reaching the UK, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said.
Prosecuting lawyer Evelyn Keelson said after the sentencing: "The message is clear - when you are caught with narcotics, the law will deal with you and that is what we want society to know."Prosecuting lawyer Evelyn Keelson said after the sentencing: "The message is clear - when you are caught with narcotics, the law will deal with you and that is what we want society to know."
According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) "tens of millions of pounds of drugs" have been seized and stopped from reaching the UK as a result of the collaboration.
Tony Walker, who heads Operation Westbridge, said: "Cases such as these should be a warning to anyone that drugs destroy lives. Whether you are a user or a trafficker, you are gambling with your life.
"The use of such young people in smuggling drugs demonstrates the ruthless nature of those criminal gangs involved in the illegal narcotics trade and the misery they cause."