The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) of Ghana has apprehended three foreign nationals as part of an ongoing investigation into the seizure of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon. The suspects, identified as Syrian, Tunisian, and Lebanese nationals, were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations on Tuesday, November 3. This followed information received from Lebanese law enforcement authorities.
According to sources, two of the suspects, a man and a woman, were arrested in Accra, Ghana's capital city, while the third suspect was apprehended in a separate operation. The arrests were a result of a joint investigation by Ghanaian and Lebanese security agencies. The goal was to identify those suspected of facilitating the shipment and to establish their links to a wider international drug trafficking network.
The investigation began after a Syrian national was arrested at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport on Saturday, October 31. The suspect had arrived from Accra aboard a Middle East Airlines flight with cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage. Lebanese Customs authorities discovered 40 packages containing 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine in the passenger's bags. The consignment had been concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation materials designed to evade airport scanning equipment.
The seizure in Lebanon was significant, with electronic tracking devices discovered among the packages. Lebanese authorities described it as the largest drug interception in the airport's history. Preliminary investigations suggested that the suspect had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing from Syria several weeks earlier. He then travelled to Accra and later returned to Beirut with the cocaine consignment.
NACOC has stated that the operation leading to the arrest in Lebanon was part of a coordinated controlled-delivery exercise. This was conducted in collaboration with Lebanese drug enforcement authorities. The goal was to identify and apprehend individuals at both ends of the suspected trafficking chain while gathering intelligence to help dismantle the wider international criminal network.
The suspects' arrests in Ghana mark a significant breakthrough in the case, as international cooperation between law enforcement agencies continues to play a crucial role in combating drug trafficking. Further investigations are expected to uncover more details about the trafficking network and the roles of the arrested individuals.
The successful interception of the cocaine consignment and the subsequent arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between countries in disrupting international drug trafficking operations. The case highlights the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated actions in preventing the smuggling of large quantities of narcotics across borders.
Key points
- The arrested individuals are Syrian, Tunisian, and Lebanese nationals.
- The cocaine seizure at Beirut's airport was described as the largest in the airport's history.
- The operation was a coordinated controlled-delivery exercise between Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities.
