Cocaine Transit Crisis: Another Shipment Pops Up In SA

Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, NACOC Boss. INSET: The suspect

Ghana has once again become the centre of attention following the arrest of a 52-year-old man at the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa on suspicion of drug trafficking after arriving from Accra.

The South African national, who had arrived from Ghana, was arrested by the country’s law enforcement agents in an intelligence-led operation that resulted in the retrieval of substances suspected to be cocaine, with a local street value of R2 million, an equivalent of GH¢1,416,545.18.

This is the third major arrest of persons suspected to be linked to drug trafficking syndicates, having arrived from Ghana to their various destinations.

The arrest has resulted in calls on government to take drastic measures to deal with the incidents which have the potential to put passengers arriving from Ghana on the radar of other countries.

In June this year, a British actress and an Australian couple were arrested and put before court for allegedly attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia from Ghana, with an estimated value of A$296 million ($208 million).

In July, French customs officers at the port of Dunkirk seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at more than US$260 million, concealed in a container of plastic waste that had departed Ghana.

All these incidents put together paint a negative picture of the country’s border and customs, as many are beginning to draw a link to insider complicity.

Responding to the previous two major drug busts in France and Australia, President John Mahama gave an inter-agency task force two weeks to draw up measures to halt the trafficking of narcotic drugs through Ghana’s borders.

GH¢1.4m SA Bust

The 52-year-old man was detained on Sunday, September 20, 2026, following a coordinated operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Border Management Authority (BMA).

“The 52-year-old South African national had just arrived on a flight from Accra, Ghana, when police intercepted him at the airport on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

A search of the suspect’s luggage led police to uncover bullet-like objects and blocks containing substances suspected to be heroin,” a police statement read.

The man is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court later this week to face drug trafficking-related charges.

“The South African Police Service continues to intensify its efforts to dismantle and dislodge drug trafficking syndicates through ongoing intelligence-led and targeted operations,” the statement read.

**$208m Australia Bust **

British actress, Emaa Hussen and an Australian couple have been arrested and put before court for allegedly attempting to smuggle 320kg of methamphetamine into Australia from Ghana, with an estimated value of A$296 million ($208 million).

The BBC reported that Emaa Hussen, 34, appeared in a Sydney court after she was charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia. She faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the offence.

She was held in lawful custody after she was earlier denied bail by the court. Police allege Hussen, along with a couple from South Australia, tried to import meth hidden in bags of charcoal in shipping containers from Ghana.

According to the report, Australian police launched an investigation in April after border authorities detected anomalies in two shipping containers that had arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana.

Authorities found a “white crystalised substance” after they X-rayed the contents of the containers, which were listed as bags of charcoal. Further testing confirmed it was meth.

Police removed the drugs from the shipment before it was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween in Sydney’s western suburbs, it said.

US$260m French Bust

Four persons arrested in connection with the 3.9-tonne cocaine bust, valued at €225 million ($260 million), have been remanded into custody by a High Court in Accra.

The arrest of the four is linked to the activities of Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos” in Ghana.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), in a statement following the arrest of three of the suspects on September 14, said the arrests formed part of its efforts to disrupt international drug-trafficking organisations operating in or through the country.

The Commission reaffirmed its resolve to ensure that Ghana did not become a safe haven, transit point or operational base for international drug-trafficking organisations.

Oti Bust

In a related development, the Ghana Police Service has intercepted 5,164 compressed round parcels suspected to contain narcotic substances concealed in a hidden compartment of a DAF articulator truck in the Oti Region.

Three suspects, Abdul Razak Adamu, 35, driver; Jubril Amidu, 33, mechanic; and Aliu Adamu, 33, driver, were arrested, while a fourth occupant, Adamu Iddi, managed to escape.

The three arrested persons were arraigned at the Dambai Circuit Court and were remanded into police custody to reappear on October 15, 2026.

The truck has been impounded, while the exhibits have been secured to assist investigations.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the escaped suspect and identify other persons connected to the consignment.

BY Gibril Abdul Razak