On 5 August 2026, Ghanaian police seized 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari at a warehouse in the Tema Harbour enclave, a consignment valued at US$6.928 million that was reportedly being loaded into a 40‑foot container for export. Three suspects, including a Dutch national, were arrested.
In a separate operation, a driver’s mate was caught at the ESP Bus Station in Wa with 192 compressed wraps of cocaine, allegedly transported from Kumasi through the Bole enclave; a second suspect was subsequently detained.
Internationally, the largest cocaine interception in Beirut airport history occurred on 31 October 2026 when Lebanese authorities seized 46.7 kg of the drug from a Syrian national arriving from Accra. The drugs were hidden in 40 packages with sophisticated insulation and electronic tracking devices.
Perhaps the most consequential find was nearly four tonnes of cocaine discovered at France’s Port of Dunkirk, concealed in a 40‑foot container declared as plastic waste from Ghana. The seizure, worth about €225 million, triggered investigations in Ghana, leading to arrests and court proceedings involving four accused persons and allegations of links to Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers.
These incidents have prompted Ghanaian authorities to call for a coordinated national investigation involving NACOC, the Police Service, National Security, Customs, the Ghana Airports Company and other institutions. The government stresses the need to identify financiers, organisers and beneficiaries of the operations, trace illicit assets and demonstrate to international partners that Ghana is confronting the problem with seriousness and transparency.
While the full impact on Ghana’s reputation as a stable trade hub remains to be seen, the pattern of drug trafficking incidents threatens increased scrutiny, delays and higher costs for legitimate exporters, airlines and logistics companies. The government warns that the criminal activities of a few must not compromise the nation’s economic interests and international standing.
