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UK girls guilty over Ghana drugs

  • Story Highlights
  • Two British teenage girls found guilty of drug trafficking in Ghanian court
  • 16-year-olds tried to smuggle 13 lbs of cocaine out of Ghana in laptop cases
  • Pair face a maximum sentence of three years in prison under juvenile law
  • Legal adviser said girls were "vulnerable," planned to appeal verdict
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(CNN) -- A Ghanaian court Wednesday found two British teenage girls guilty of attempting to smuggle drugs out of the west African country, and a legal adviser for the girls said they planned to appeal.

The girls, both 16, were convicted of possessing an illegal substance and attempting to export an illegal substance without a license. They were arrested in July as they tried to board a plane while carrying cocaine.

Sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 5; the girls face a maximum sentence of three years in prison under juvenile law.

Sabine Zanker, a legal consultant from Fair Trials Abroad who advised the girls' legal defense team, said the lawyers planned to appeal.

"We took on the case not because we thought they wouldn't get a fair trial, as such, but because of the age. They're particularly vulnerable," Zanker told CNN. "This is one of the categories we are looking into taking on."

She said the appeal would have to wait until after the sentencing.

"We thought they had a really good defense, so we were disappointed," Zanker said. She added the girls were "visibly upset" and that the verdict would take time to sink in.

The UK Foreign Office said it was providing the girls with consular assistance.

If the girls are sentenced to time in prison, they would likely serve the sentence in Ghana as the country has no agreement with Britain on the transfer of prisoners. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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