Court orrders destruction of $350m worth of cocaine seized in Ghana

The Criminal Division of the High Court has ordered the destruction of cocaine worth over $350 million. This follows confirmatory tests by state authorities in Ghana.

On Wednesday, more than three tonnes of suspected narcotics were inspected. The testing took place at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters in Ridge, Accra.

This process was conducted under a court directive from Justice Ruby Aryeetey. It is part of an ongoing narcotics trial involving Isaac Quarcoo, Kenneth Cobbinah, and Mawuko Kudufia.

State attorneys, defense lawyers, and technical experts from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) were present. They performed a Cobalt Thiocyanate field test on the samples.

The samples turned blue, indicating a presumptive positive result for cocaine. Further analysis by the GSA confirmed it as cocaine hydrochloride using advanced techniques.

The narcotics—approximately 3.3 tonnes—were intercepted in March at Pedu Junction in the Central Region. They were hidden under sand in a tipper truck heading to Accra.

The court has scheduled the destruction of these exhibits for June 20 at Bundase in Greater Accra Region.

Meanwhile, the NIB is searching for three additional suspects: Kelian Julien Mensah, Jefflean Kwadjo Ntow, and Charles Hagan. These individuals remain at large.