President John Dramani Mahama has directed the formation of an inter-agency task force to develop a detailed roadmap to strengthen measures against the trafficking of narcotics through Ghana’s borders.
The task force has been given two weeks to submit its proposals, which will be based on recommendations from an urgent security meeting chaired by the President at the Jubilee House.
During the meeting, the President was briefed that 10 individuals, including four officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), are currently being held as investigations into a recent cocaine seizure continue.
The meeting also reviewed Ghana’s existing border security and narcotics-control systems and recommended additional measures to prevent the movement of illegal drugs through the country.
The development follows the seizure by French customs authorities of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately €225 million, at the northern port of Dunkirk on September 10.
The cocaine was concealed in a container carrying plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana, with part of the consignment reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium.
French authorities have launched investigations into the shipment and the criminal network allegedly linked to it, while Ghanaian authorities are investigating how the consignment left the country. Four suspects were remanded into police custody earlier this week.
According to the Presidency, the security meeting “reviewed the structure and security systems in place and recommended new actions” to strengthen efforts to prevent narcotics trafficking through Ghana’s borders.
The inter-agency task force is expected to submit its detailed roadmap within two weeks, drawing on the findings and recommendations of the meeting.
