Two British citizens have been arrested in Ghana after being accused of trying to smuggle $6.48m (£5m) worth of cocaine from the West African country to London. Ghana’s Narcotic Control Commission said the pair tried to hide the cocaine, which had been cut into 72 slabs and divided between six suitcases, at Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra. Officials seized around 166kg (366lbs) of the drug on Monday; the suspects were scheduled to board a British Airways flight to London Gatwick.
The operation was conducted jointly between the Ghanaian commission and the UK Crime Agency. Ghana is a significant transit hub for illegal drug trafficking, with authorities now intensifying surveillance at the country’s ports. Over the course of 2022, the Ghanaian authorities have witnessed a substantial escalation in drug seizures, shining a light on the extent of the issue. The total amount of illicit drugs seized by authorities this year alone stands at 59.9kg.
Drug trafficking is a major problem throughout the world, with criminal organisations placing significant emphasis on the international transit of illegal narcotics. While Ghana is just one of many countries grappling with the issue, its authorities have been attempting to counteract the issue of drug-related crime by working with international bodies to improve surveillance measures. As such, operations such as the one carried out on Monday may help to send a message to drug traffickers that Ghana is taking a robust stance against their activities.
Awareness of drug smuggling throughout the world has become increasingly important over the last few years, with efforts being made at an international level to tackle the issue head-on. By cooperating closely with other countries and agencies as well as through education and awareness raising, it is hoped that drug trafficking can be brought under control and the amount of illegal narcotics flooding the streets of countries like Ghana can be dramatically reduced
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