Cocaine seizure in France raises questions over Ghana’s border security – Emily Nyarko

Education and youth advocate Emily Jemima Nyarko has called on the government to investigate how nearly four tonnes of cocaine allegedly left Ghana undetected before being seized by French authorities.

Ms. Nyarko, Chairperson of the Ghana Students Association of Research, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creative Arts (GSAREICA), made the call in a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday, September 15.

French authorities recently intercepted about 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container of plastic waste that had reportedly arrived from Ghana at the port of Dunkirk.

The consignment was valued at about €225 million.

The seizure has raised questions about how such a large quantity of narcotics could leave Ghana without detection.

“How did it move from Ghana without being seen?” Nyarko asked, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shipment.

She said the probe should involve institutions responsible for Ghana’s borders, airports, ports and national security.

Nyarko specifically mentioned the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and other security agencies.

She wants authorities to establish whether cargo-scanning equipment is functioning effectively and whether intelligence is being adequately shared among the relevant agencies.

The call comes amid other major drug seizures linked to Ghana.

In June 2026, Australian authorities intercepted about 320 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in charcoal reportedly shipped from Ghana.

In 2025, Ghanaian authorities also intercepted about 3.3 tonnes of cocaine on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway, while another 89.74 kilograms of suspected cocaine was seized at the Swissport facility at the Kotoka International Airport.

NACOC Director-General, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, also said in July 2026 that Ghana is increasingly becoming a transit point and distribution hub for illicit drugs.

Nyarko believes the latest seizure should therefore prompt authorities to examine the entire chain involved in the movement of narcotics.

She said the investigation should not focus only on persons arrested or linked directly to the drugs but should also examine financiers, facilitators, logistics operators and possible security lapses.