A U.S. Army Major has been convicted on multiple charges after orchestrating an elaborate scheme to smuggle firearms to Ghana concealed in barrels of rice, a case that has illuminated the shadowy intersections of military trust and international arms trafficking.
Maj. Kojo Owusu Dartey, 42, was found guilty by a federal jury of 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, and conspiracy, according to a Justice Department statement.
Dartey, also known as “Killa K,” purchased seven firearms in Fort Liberty in 2021 and conspired with U.S. Army Staff Sergeant George Archer, subsequently concealing them in barrels filled with rice and household goods. These barrels were then transported from Baltimore to Tema, Ghana, where Ghanaian authorities uncovered the weapons and alerted American agencies.
Evidence in the federal court in North Carolina revealed Dartey’s coordination with U.S. Army Staff Sergeant George Archer at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Archer, who was also implicated, purchased three Glock 19 pistols from an Army exchange and sent them to North Carolina.
Dartey’s clandestine operations included the concealment of 50-round magazines and suppressors in the barrels. He managed to evade immediate detection by paying $300 to an individual to ensure the barrels were placed on a container ship bound for Ghana. Upon their arrival, the Ghana Revenue Authority intercepted the shipment and informed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) attaché in Ghana and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
The trial, which spanned four days, acquitted Dartey of several other charges including five counts of lying to gun stores during the purchase of weapons and a charge of impeding justice in a separate marriage fraud scheme trial. The jury concluded that Dartey had misled law enforcement and the court by denying an extramarital affair with one of the trial witnesses.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley underscored the gravity of the convictions, stating, “Through a partnership with Ghanaian officials, this rogue Army Major was convicted at trial.” The case has shone a spotlight on the international reach of U.S. law enforcement and the significance of international cooperation in combatting illicit arms trade.
The Major’s defense team declined to comment on the verdict. Dartey, now awaiting sentencing scheduled for July 23, faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Relevant articles:
– ‘Rogue Army major’ convicted of smuggling guns to Ghana, lying about marriage fraud ring, Stripes, 05/01/2024
– Army Major smuggled rifles, pistols and a shotgun to Ghana in rice barrels, Task & Purpose, 04/30/2024
– Army Major Guilty of Smuggling Guns to Ghana in Barrels of Rice, SOFREP, 04/30/2024
– US Army Major Convicted For Smuggling Guns To Ghana In Barrels Of Rice, DailyGuide Network, 04/30/2024
– Fort Liberty Army Major found guilty for smuggling guns in rice barrels to Ghana; lying under oath, Fox 46 Charlotte, 04/29/2024