Emirates passenger arrested with 92 slabs of Indian hemp at KIA

In a dramatic operation at the Kotoka International Airport on Sunday afternoon, officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) intercepted a passenger arriving on an Emirates flight in possession of a large consignment of cannabis.

The seizure, which NACOC confirmed in a statement, included 92 compressed slabs of cannabis weighing a total of 53.60 kilograms.

The suspected trafficker was arrested shortly after disembarking from the international flight, triggering swift security and customs investigations.

Preliminary findings point to a broader smuggling ring, as two other individuals—one of them identified as a Ghana Customs officer stationed at the airport—were also arrested in connection with the illicit consignment.

According to NACOC, the cannabis slabs were concealed in the suspect’s luggage in a manner designed to evade standard screening processes.

However, heightened vigilance and intelligence-led profiling enabled officers to intercept the contraband before it could be cleared from the airport.

The involvement of a Customs officer has raised serious concerns about collusion within key state agencies responsible for border security.

NACOC has stated that the three suspects are currently in custody, assisting with ongoing investigations aimed at dismantling the entire network behind the smuggling attempt.

This arrest adds to a growing number of recent incidents where Ghana’s airports and ports have become focal points in the global narcotics trade.

The Commission, in recent months, has stepped up surveillance operations amid rising cases of drug trafficking attempts, often involving transnational criminal networks exploiting Ghana as a transit route for narcotics bound for Europe and Asia.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the names of the suspects as investigations continue.

However, sources close to the case suggest the bust may be linked to a broader syndicate exploiting both air and sea routes.