The Jatikay Centre has questioned the Narcotics Control Commission’s (NACOC) explanation of a cocaine seizure involving a Syrian national at Lebanon’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, demanding clarification of how 46.7 kilogrammes of the drug reportedly transported from Accra left Ghana undetected.
The policy and security advocacy organisation said the seizure, described as the largest in the airport’s history, raised concerns about Ghana’s narcotics enforcement, border security and the possibility of weaknesses in the country’s drug control systems.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Adib Saani, the centre expressed concern over NACOC’s subsequent claim that the arrest was the outcome of a coordinated controlled delivery operation with Lebanese authorities.
It described the explanation as unsatisfactory and called on the commission to provide evidence of the alleged collaboration and clarify the circumstances surrounding the shipment.
The controversy follows the arrest of a Syrian national at the Beirut airport after the interception of the cocaine, reportedly transported from Accra.
Questions over controlled delivery
The Jatikay Centre questioned why the suspect was allowed to leave Accra with such a large quantity of cocaine if NACOC had prior knowledge of the shipment.
It also demanded details of when the consignment was detected, what safeguards were put in place and what evidence supported the commission’s account of operational cooperation with Lebanese authorities.
The organisation further questioned why the initial statement by the Lebanese authorities credited their Customs and General Security agencies without explicitly acknowledging Ghana’s involvement.
It also sought clarification on whether the operation constituted a controlled delivery, as claimed by NACOC, or whether the arrest was made only after the suspect arrived at the Beirut airport.
The centre asked whether any suspected accomplices who might have facilitated the movement of the drugs in Ghana had been arrested.
Another concern was the difference between the quantities reported by the two authorities. While NACOC reportedly put the seizure at approximately 40 kilogrammes, the Lebanese authorities cited 46.7 kilogrammes.
The centre said the discrepancy required an explanation.
Calls for accountability
Although acknowledging that controlled deliveries were legitimate law enforcement techniques, the organisation cautioned against using the term to deflect scrutiny from possible operational failures.
It warned that repeated incidents involving large drug shipments reportedly departing Ghana and being intercepted abroad could damage the country’s international reputation and undermine confidence in its border security arrangements.
The centre said such developments raised concerns about possible institutional weaknesses, negligence or complicity, although it did not provide evidence establishing any of those possibilities.
It called for decisive action and accountability from the relevant security agencies.
“We cannot continue tolerating a situation where foreign security agencies intercept massive drug shipments departing Ghana while our institutions issue statements celebrating cooperation without providing convincing answers,” the statement said.
The organisation insisted that Ghana should not become a departure point for international drug trafficking syndicates and urged the security agencies to demonstrate competence, accountability and results.
“Ghana must not become a safe departure point for international drug traffickers,” it said.