A United States Army Major has been convicted on multiple charges after being found guilty by a federal jury for smuggling firearms to Ghana concealed within blue barrels of rice and household goods.
The 42-year-old officer, Kojo Owusu Dartey, stationed at Fort Liberty, faces a maximum sentence of 240 months, with the verdict scheduled to be pronounced on July 23, 2024.
This conviction comes as a result of a collaborative effort between US law enforcement agencies and Ghanaian authorities, shining a light on an international arms trafficking operation. Dartey was charged with a range of offenses including dealing in firearms without a license, delivering firearms without notice to the carrier, smuggling goods from the US, illegally exporting firearms without a license, making false statements to a US agency, making false declarations before the court, and conspiracy.
US Attorney Michael Easley expressed appreciation for the cooperation with Ghanaian officials in the investigation, specifically mentioning the Ghana Revenue Authority and the International Cooperation Unit Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana. The support of the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI attachés in Accra, and the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs was also acknowledged.
Toni M. Crosby, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Division, highlighted the importance of preventing firearms trafficking and commended the joint investigation that stopped these weapons from reaching criminal hands. Evidence presented during the trial revealed how Dartey acquired firearms and directed others to purchase them on his behalf, leading to the smuggling of handguns, an AR15, 50-round magazines, suppressors, and a combat shotgun in blue barrels shipped to Ghana.
The Ghana Revenue Authority intercepted the firearms, prompting an international response involving US agencies. Concurrently, Dartey faced additional charges for misleading law enforcement and lying under oath in another trial as a witness. The case was investigated by the ATF, Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, with prosecution led by Assistant US Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz and technical expertise from David Ryan of the DOJ Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Chief US District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict, marking a significant milestone in the fight against arms trafficking and illegal exportation of firearms.
