Accra, Sept. 17, GNA – An Accra High Court has remanded four persons into lawful custody over their alleged involvement in the exportation of about four tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France.
The accused are Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also known as Paul Kweku Yeboah and “Biggs”; Musah Atta, alias “Kromo”; Kweku Okyere; and Jessica Hartog.
A fifth suspect, Jos Leudekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos”, is currently at large.
The four have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime and the exportation of narcotic drugs, namely about four tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of US$260 million.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges in the presence of their lawyers.
The court remanded them into lawful custody pending further investigations and ordered them to reappear on October 13, 2026.
Bail applications filed by their respective lawyers were denied.
Presenting the facts before the court, the prosecution said the witnesses in the case were officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) stationed at the Commission’s headquarters.
Curiel, the first accused, is a 34-year-old business broker; Atta, the second accused, is a 47-year-old farmer; Okyere, the third accused, 32, a businessman; while Hartog, 34, is a beautician.
The court heard that in September 2026, NACOC received information regarding the interception of a 40-foot container loaded with plastic waste originating from Ghana.
The container was intercepted at Dunkirk, France, where authorities allegedly discovered about four tonnes of substances suspected to be cocaine concealed within the shipment.
The suspected narcotics are estimated to have a street value of US$260 million.
Following the interception, NACOC commenced investigations and identified the accused persons as being connected to the shipment.
On September 12, 2026, authorised NACOC officers arrested Curiel and Hartog at Ashale Botwe, while Okyere was arrested at his residence in East Legon.
A subsequent search allegedly led to the retrieval of three firearms, ammunition, four luxury vehicles, passports and various sums of money.
Atta was later arrested at the NACOC headquarters on September 14, 2026.
During investigations, Curiel stated that he was a businessman engaged in various enterprises but denied any involvement in the shipment of narcotic drugs.
Atta, who described himself as a friend of Curiel, told investigators that he had not conducted any business with him.
Okyere also indicated that he had been a long-time friend of Curiel and that they were currently working on the construction of Curiel’s apartment project at Tse Addo.
In her caution statement, Hartog said she was Curiel’s fiancĂ©e and was unaware of the nature and details of his business activities.
The prosecution said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest all other persons connected to the alleged exportation of the suspected narcotic drugs.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Joyce Danso