Ghana jails UK teens for drug smuggling

Two 16-year-old British girls convicted of trying to smuggle cocaine from Ghana to the UK have each been jailed for one year.The Accra juvenile court showed leniency in sentencing Yasemin Vatansever and Yatunde Diya after recommendations from social services.They had faced possible jail terms of up to three years but could be free within months if the time they have already spent in custody is taken into account.Ghanaian law allows offenders sentenced to one year to be released after nine months so the girls - who have been in custody since their arrests last July - could be let out in early April.Officials from Ghana's Narcotics Control Board have said the girls were being paid £3,000 each to carry the bags on a flight to Britain.Authorities said their air tickets were bought by men who also paid for the girls' accommodation and food in Ghana.The girls claimed they did not know about the drugs, but were convicted in November at a closed hearing of a juvenile court in the country.Prosecution lawyer Evelyn Keelson said: "Both sides are satisfied with the trial. 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."© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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ITN | January 23, 2008

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