Interior Minister reveals how some people within the system were involved in meth shipment scandal

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that preliminary investigations into the methamphetamine shipment from Ghana intercepted in Australia have uncovered possible involvement of some government officials in facilitating the concealment and movement of the illicit drugs.

He said investigators suspect that certain officials may have exploited weaknesses within Ghana’s security systems to enable the shipment of the narcotics, with several individuals currently being questioned as authorities work to determine the extent of the alleged internal collaboration.

Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Assurances, Mr Muntaka said investigations remain ongoing and that details cannot yet be made public because the process is still underway.

“Even as at yesterday we were still interrogating a lot of government officials. It is not everything I can put out at this stage because we are still investigating and interrogating people. There are a lot of things that are not adding up. You could see that there is some involvement of some people within the system,” he stated.

The Minister explained that while modern technology and security equipment are essential in detecting and preventing illegal activities at Ghana’s borders, their effectiveness ultimately depends on the commitment and integrity of the personnel responsible for operating them.

“Even if you put all these gadgets, remember it is going to be operated by human beings. So if the wrong persons are sitting there, you can bring all the gadgets of this world; it will not be effective,” he added.

Mr Muntaka disclosed that the government has begun reviewing security arrangements at the country’s entry and exit points, including changes to personnel deployment strategies and operational procedures, as part of efforts to improve border security.

“We have changed our modus operandi and the way we place personnel. All of this is to make sure we protect our borders,” he said.

The Minister’s comments follow the interception in Australia of approximately 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal shipment believed to have originated from Ghana.

The consignment, which was seized by Australian authorities, has an estimated value of A$296 million and has triggered investigations into possible security lapses, including allegations of internal facilitation within Ghana’s border control systems.

Authorities have since intensified efforts to identify all persons linked to the shipment and strengthen measures to prevent Ghana from being exploited as a transit point for international drug trafficking networks.