U.S. Army Major Convicted of Smuggling Firearms to Ghana

U.S. Army Major Kojo Owusu Dartey, currently assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, has been found guilty by a federal jury of smuggling firearms to Ghana. Dartey was convicted on charges including dealing in firearms without a license, delivering firearms without notice to the carrier, smuggling goods from the United States, illegally exporting firearms without a license, making false statements to a U.S. agency, making false declarations before the court, and conspiracy.

Between June 28 and July 2, 2021, Dartey purchased seven firearms in the Fort Liberty area and had a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, purchase three more firearms and send them to him in North Carolina. Dartey then concealed the firearms, including handguns, an AR-15, magazines, suppressors, and a combat shotgun, inside blue barrels underneath rice and household goods. He smuggled the barrels out of the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, on a container ship to the Port of Tema in Ghana.

The Ghana Revenue Authority recovered the firearms and reported the seizure to the DEA attaché in Ghana and the ATF Baltimore Field Division. The case was investigated by the ATF, Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Export Enforcement, with assistance from Ghanaian authorities.

Why this matters: This case highlights the ongoing issue of illegal arms trafficking and the potential for U.S. military personnel to abuse their positions to engage in such activities. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crimes.

Dartey, age 42, faces a maximum penalty of 240 months (20 years) in prison when he is sentenced on July 23, 2024. "Dartey was also found guilty of dealing firearms without a license, delivering firearms without notice to the carrier, smuggling goods from the United States, making false declarations before the court, and conspiracy," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. Army Major Kojo Owusu Dartey convicted of smuggling firearms to Ghana.
• Dartey purchased 10 firearms and concealed them in barrels with household goods.
• Firearms, including handguns, AR-15, and suppressors, were seized at the Port of Tema in Ghana.
• Case highlights illegal arms trafficking and potential for military personnel to abuse their positions.
• Dartey faces up to 20 years in prison for charges including firearms dealing and smuggling.