By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov. 03, GNA – The Jatikay Centre has expressed outrage over the arrest of a Syrian national at Lebanon’s Rafic Hariri International Airport with 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine allegedly transported from Accra.
Describing the seizure as the largest drug bust in the airport’s history, the Centre said the development was a major embarrassment to Ghana and raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the country’s narcotics enforcement regime and broader national security architecture.
A statement issued by Mr Adib Saani, Chief Executive Officer of the Jatikay Centre, said the explanation subsequently offered by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) was particularly troubling.
Mr Saani said NACOC’s claim that the arrest resulted from a coordinated controlled delivery operation conducted in collaboration with Lebanese authorities was “deeply unsatisfactory” and appeared to be a possible damage-control measure.
According to him, a number of critical questions remained unanswered.
“If NACOC knew about the cocaine shipment, why was the suspect allowed to depart Accra International Airport with such a substantial quantity of narcotics?” he asked.
“If it’s a controlled delivery, was it delivered? Or arrest was made at the airport in Lebanon?
Mr Saani also questioned when the cocaine was detected, what safeguards had been put in place, and what evidence existed to support NACOC’s claim of operational collaboration if the exercise was indeed a controlled delivery operation.
He further queried why Lebanese authorities, in their initial statement, credited only their Customs and General Security agencies for the seizure without explicitly acknowledging Ghana’s involvement.
Mr Saani asked whether, if the operation was a genuine, controlled delivery, the consignment had actually been delivered or whether the suspect was arrested upon arrival at the airport.
He also sought clarification on whether any accomplices in Ghana who might have facilitated the movement of the narcotics had been arrested.
Another issue requiring explanation, he noted, was the discrepancy in the reported quantity of cocaine seized.
“Why does NACOC report approximately 40 kilogrammes while Lebanese authorities report 46.7 kilogrammes? The discrepancy requires clarification.”
Mr Saani acknowledged that controlled deliveries were legitimate law enforcement techniques but cautioned against using the term to justify possible operational shortcomings.
He warned that Ghana risked acquiring an international reputation as a transit point for drug trafficking syndicates if decisive measures were not taken.
According to him, such incidents damaged the country’s credibility, undermined confidence in border security systems, and raised concerns about negligence, institutional weaknesses, or possible complicity.
“We demand a more decisive action on this matter. Heads must roll,” Mr Saani stated.
He said Ghana could not continue to witness massive drug consignments departing its borders only to be intercepted by foreign security agencies while local institutions focused on public relations explanations.
Mr Saani stressed that Ghana must not become a safe departure point for international drug traffickers.
He called on the country’s security agencies to demonstrate competence, accountability and measurable results in combating narcotics trafficking.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah