Lebanon Cocaine Suspect Claims He Bribed Accra Airport Security With $3,000

A Syrian national arrested at Beirut's airport with a large cocaine consignment from Accra has reportedly told investigators he bribed his way past security in Ghana. The claim is the Daily Gist's lead story of 4 November 2026, and it has put Ghana's airport security under fresh scrutiny.

Lebanese authorities arrested the passenger, identified as B.H., after seizing 40kg of cocaine at Beirut's airport, which the Finance Ministry called the largest drug bust in the airport's history.

Lebanese customs later put the quantity at 46.7kg, found on a passenger who arrived from Accra on Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576.

The drugs were reportedly hidden in two pieces of luggage.

On the bribe, the man reportedly said he passed security checkpoints without being searched, and that he was promised US$3,000 for delivering the consignment to a contact outside the Lebanese airport.

Lebanese customs sources allege he bribed officials at Accra International Airport. The claim is unproven and rests on a suspect's reported account. No Ghanaian official has been named or charged.

The allegation is awkward for Ghana because Accra airport was recently fitted with advanced screening technology and sniffer dogs. Lebanese authorities also said the packaging used insulation techniques designed to evade scanning equipment.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) says it is pursuing suspected accomplices in Ghana. It has also said it monitored the Syrian before letting him travel, as part of an operation targeting a wider international drug network.

Bright Simons has argued that this "controlled delivery" explanation does not add up. In Parliament, the Minority has kept up pressure on the Speaker over the cocaine probe.

Who took the money, who sent the shipment and who was waiting in Lebanon are still unanswered, and investigations under judicial supervision are ongoing. (lbcgroup)

References
The National, "Lebanon seizes 40kg of cocaine in Beirut airport's largest ever drug bust" (1 Nov 2026): https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/01/lebanon-seizes-40kg-of-cocaine-in-beirut-airports-largest-ever-drug-bust/

LBCI, "Lebanese customs seize 46.7 kg of cocaine in record airport drug bust": https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/965805/lebanese-customs-seize-467-kg-of-cocaine-in-record-airport-drug-bust/en

LBCI, "Two suitcases, 40 kilos of cocaine and a $3,000 payoff" (1 Nov 2026): https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/news-bulletin-reports/965849/two-suitcases-40-kilos-of-cocaine-and-a-3000-payoff-inside-beirut-airp/en

Yen.com.gh, "Man arrested in Lebanon with 40kg of illegal substance from Ghana speaks": https://yen.com.gh/people/314926-man-arrested-lebanon-40kg-illegal-substance-ghana-allegedly-admits-bribery/

The Herald Ghana, "Ghanaian airport officials accused of taking bribe to facilitate cocaine shipment to Lebanon": https://theheraldghana.com/ghanaian-airport-officials-accused-of-taking-bribe-to-facilitate-cocaine-shipment-to-lebanon/

Graphic Online, "46.7kg cocaine trafficker through Accra used insulation techniques...": https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/syrian-46-7kg-cocaine-trafficker-through-accra-used-sophisticated-packaging-and-insulation-techniques-designed-to-evade-detection-by-scanning-equipment-lebanese-authorities.html

Graphic Online, "NACOC hunts Ghana accomplices over 40kg cocaine shipment": https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/nacoc-hunts-ghana-accomplices-after-40kg-suspected-cocaine-shipment-seized-in-beirut.html

Graphic Online, "Bright Simons on why NACOC's 'controlled delivery' explanation... does not add up": https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/bright-simons-on-why-nacocs-controlled-delivery-explanation-on-why-it-allowed-suspected-cocaine-trafficker-to-leave-ghana-for-lebanon-does-not-add-up.html

Ghanaian Times, "Syrian national arrested in Lebanon with 40kg of suspected Cocaine from Ghana": https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/syrian-national-arrested-in-lebanon-with-40kg-of-suspected-cocaine-from-ghana/

Pulse Ghana, "Syrian national arrested in Beirut with 40kg of suspected cocaine from Ghana": https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/syrian-national-arrested-in-beirut-with-40kg-of-suspected-cocaine-from-ghana-2026110116162171887

The Daily Gist, front page, Wednesday 4 November 2026 (issue 120/2026, full story on page 3)