Ghana is facing renewed scrutiny over a series of major international narcotics seizures in which the country has featured as a source, transit point or point of origin.
With the NPP Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over drug consignments valued at more than $1 billion seized in Ghana and abroad in less than two years under the John Mahama administration.
As questions mount over the scale and frequency of these cases, here are three major international drug busts linked to Ghana that have attracted significant attention.
- $296m Australian meth bust linked to Ghana
The Australian Federal Police in July 2026 intercepted about 320kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $296 million, which it says was imported into the country from Ghana.
Parts of the statement, which was shared on Facebook on July 18, 2026, read, “The AFP launched an investigation after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney’s Port Botany detected anomalies in two shipping containers from Ghana.
“The consignment, which was purported to be bags of charcoal, was subsequently X-rayed, with ABF officers locating a white crystallised substance. Forensic testing established the consignment contained about 320kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $296 million”.
“The drugs were removed, and the consignment was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween, where the UK national allegedly supervised a number of men unpacking the shipping container. A number of bags were loaded into a vehicle and driven to a house in Blacktown. Shortly after, AFP investigators executed a search warrant at the Blacktown house and arrested the UK woman.
“Further inquiries resulted in an additional search warrant at a house in Oakden, South Australia, where the Adelaide couple were arrested,” the police added.
Later, Emaa Hussen, a 34-year-old British actress, was arrested and charged in Sydney, Australia, after she was fingered in the alleged involvement in US$208 million of meth traced to Ghana.
Emaa Hussen has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia by the authorities.
Investigators allege that the shipment was later taken to a storage facility in Girraween, western Sydney, where she helped in unpacking the concealed drugs.
Australian Police further disclosed that she transported the drugs to a residence in Blacktown, where she was arrested.
She has since been denied bail and remains in custody and charged alongside a South Australian couple who are also accused of helping coordinate the alleged operation.
Also, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the Interior Minister, has revealed that preliminary investigations into the meth shipment from Ghana intercepted in Australia have implicated some government officials suspected.
The Interior Minister disclosed that a number of government officials are suspected of facilitating the concealment of the illicit drugs.
According to the Interior Minister, investigations are ongoing, with several officials being questioned.
He further disclosed that, with the investigation and interrogating people, a lot of things are not adding up.
- 4,500kg of cocaine from Ghana linked to fugitive Leijdekkers seized by Dutch authorities
It will be recalled in November 2025, Dutch authorities intercepted more than 4,500kg of cocaine at the Port of Amsterdam in a shipment reportedly originating from Ghana and concealed in wood products.
A report by Ghana Business News said the shipment was destined for Germany and was allegedly linked to Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch national described as one of Europe’s most wanted drug traffickers.
Reports suggest the seizure was one of the largest cocaine haul ever intercepted at the Port of Amsterdam.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service disclosed that three men were arrested in connection with the shipment. They were aged 72, 69 and 42.
The 72-year-old man from Chaam, Noord-Brabant, was allegedly used as a front, with his name used to register the importing company.
Following his arrest on October 5 Investigators reportedly traced the 69-year-old Amsterdam resident through information found on the phone of the 72-year-old alleged frontman.
The 69-year-old remains in custody, while the 72-year-old was released after questioning.
Authorities also arrested a 42-year-old man from Amsterdam earlier in connection with the case. He has since been released.
- French Customs seize cocaine worth $261m in shipment from Ghana
Lastly, some days ago news broke of French customs officials intercepting nearly 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine, worth about $261 million, in a shipment from Ghana.
According to Reuters news, the shipment was confiscated at the northern French port of Dunkirk on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The cocaine was concealed in 167 packages inside a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana and destined for Antwerp, Belgium.
The 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine is allegedly linked to the criminal organisation of fugitive Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers.
Reports suggest the drugs have since been destroyed, with French prosecutors opening an investigation into the seizure.
According to French authorities, the seizure followed a targeted operation by the judicial police against a criminal network suspected of being behind the shipment, with the investigation focused on offences including the organised importation of narcotics and participation in a criminal association.
The seizure is expected to form part of the broader investigation into the movement of the cocaine from Ghana to France and the criminal network alleged to have organised the shipment.
Meanwhile, Dr Francis-Xavier Sosu, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, has called for a probe into the seizure of cocaine worth over $260 million by French authorities in a shipment from Ghana.
According to the Madina MP, Ghana’s hard-earned reputation must not be dented by the actions of a few self-serving individuals who may seek to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the State.
He argued that the Mahama government’s failure to find the people behind the bust would mean the government would be putting its “international reputation”, which is a national asset, on the line.
Dr Francis-Xavier Sosu commended President Mahama and the Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for their efforts to project Ghana positively on the international stage, warning that Ghana’s democratic credentials and diplomatic standing must not be undermined by criminal activity.
In a post shared on Facebook on September 14, 2026, Dr Francis-Xavier Sosu wrote, “His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and the NDC Government have done commendably well in positioning Ghana 🇬🇭 as a respected global leader in diplomacy. The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has equally worked tirelessly to project Ghana 🇬🇭 onto the international stage as a country of integrity and a leader in democracy in Africa.
This hard-earned reputation must not be dented by the actions of a few self-serving individuals who may seek to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the State. Accordingly, I believe the reported seizure by French authorities of a cocaine consignment valued at approximately $260 million must be thoroughly investigated, and any persons found culpable must be brought to book,” he wrote.
@ghnow_ Chief Justice spotted at the funeral of Mrs Alice Serwaa Manu #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ The departure of Nana Akufo Addo from the funeral of Mrs Alice Serwaa Manu #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Sarkodie
