10 people including 4 customs officers held over drug trafficking through Ghana ports

Ten people, including four officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), have been taken into custody in connection with investigations into drug trafficking through Ghana’s ports.

The development was disclosed during a meeting of security chiefs chaired by President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday.

President Mahama was briefed on ongoing investigations into recent cases involving the alleged trafficking of narcotics out of Ghana through the country’s ports.

The meeting also examined the security arrangements and operational systems currently in place at the ports and identified additional measures to strengthen controls and prevent the movement of illicit drugs.

As part of efforts to address the problem, President Mahama has directed the establishment of an inter-agency task force to develop and submit a detailed roadmap within two weeks outlining measures to prevent drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders.

The latest development follows the seizure by French customs officials of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Dunkirk.

The narcotics were reportedly concealed in a container declared to contain plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. The consignment, estimated to be worth €225 million, was reportedly partly destined for Antwerp in Belgium.

In Ghana, the Narcotics Control Commission has subsequently arrested three people in connection with the shipment as investigations continue.