A Syrian national has been arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, after arriving from Accra with approximately 40 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage. The arrest was made on October 31, 2026, and was a result of a controlled delivery operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug enforcement authorities. The operation aimed to identify and apprehend suspects linked to the shipment at both ends of the supply chain.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying it occurred following a coordinated operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug law enforcement authorities. According to NACOC, the operation was conducted as a controlled delivery exercise aimed at identifying and apprehending suspects linked to the shipment at both ends of the supply chain. The Commission said it was working to arrest the suspect’s alleged accomplices in Ghana as investigations continued.
NACOC explained that the joint operation went beyond the arrest at the airport, as authorities sought to gather intelligence to help dismantle the wider transnational criminal network behind the suspected cocaine shipment. The operation involved cross-border cooperation and intelligence-sharing between Ghanaian and Lebanese law enforcement agencies. The Commission said the exercise demonstrated the two countries’ commitment to tackling international drug trafficking networks through coordinated enforcement operations.
The arrest comes as authorities continue efforts to identify individuals involved in the movement of suspected narcotics across international borders. NACOC said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspect’s alleged accomplices in Ghana. The Commission is working to gather intelligence on the wider trafficking network and to identify other individuals involved in the shipment.
The controlled delivery operation was a significant success for the Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities, who have been working together to combat international drug trafficking. The operation highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling transnational crime. The suspect is currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing.
The Narcotics Control Commission has not released the identity of the suspect, but has confirmed that he is a Syrian national. The Commission has also not provided details on the suspected accomplices in Ghana, but has confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend them. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released in due course.
The arrest of the Syrian national with 40kg of suspected cocaine from Ghana is a significant blow to international drug traffickers. The operation demonstrates the commitment of the Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities to tackling transnational crime and highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in achieving this goal. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected to be released in due course.
Key points
- The arrest was a result of a controlled delivery operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug enforcement authorities.
- The operation aimed to identify and apprehend suspects linked to the shipment at both ends of the supply chain.
- The suspect’s alleged accomplices in Ghana are still at large, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.
