According to The Herald, a massive consignment of illicit drugs allegedly linked to Dutch drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos,” remains in Ghana, amid reported attempts to smuggle it to Europe and other destinations.
The publication reported that the consignment arrived in Ghana shortly before the Akufo-Addo administration left office in January 2025.
Sources cited by The Herald further alleged that efforts to move the drugs out of the country have since encountered difficulties.
“The Herald could not independently verify the alleged presence of the consignment or establish its precise location in the country. However, French and Dutch investigators have established links between a nearly 3.9-tonne cocaine shipment seized last week at the port of Dunkirk in France and the criminal organisation of fugitive Dutch drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos”, who is hiding in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
The cocaine, concealed in a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana, had an estimated street value of €225 million, equivalent to approximately US$261.45 million.
Part of the consignment was reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium. Belgian customs was reported to have tipped off the French, resulting in the arrest.
The development has heightened scrutiny of Ghana’s ports and of the country’s possible role in the movement of large consignments of narcotics to international markets.
The Herald’s sources have raised suspicions that “Bolle Jos” may be keeping his cocaine in Ghana and exploiting weaknesses in the port and shipping systems to facilitate its movement to Europe and other destinations.
However, the claim that the fugitive is storing cocaine in Ghana has not been independently established beyond the large narcotic shipments from the country into Europe and Australia, some of which involve UK citizens,” the Herald article stated.
The development follows French customs officials having intercepted 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, President John Dramani Mahama has summoned a high-level meeting of state institutions involved in Ghana’s border security, ports, customs and law enforcement to address growing concerns over narcotics trafficking and other illicit substances following another major drug seizure linked to Ghana.
According to an invitation issued by the Office of the President and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama on Monday, September 14 2026, the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at the Jubilee House.
The invitation stated, “You are respectfully invited to attend a high-level meeting to discuss measures to strengthen Ghana’s border security and prevent the trafficking of narcotic drugs and other illicit substances through the country’s ports, airports and land borders.
The meeting will review existing vulnerabilities, intelligence-sharing arrangements, cargo and passenger- screening systems, inter-agency coordination, and the deployment of technology to detect and disrupt narcotics trafficking. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 17th September 2026 at 12:30 p.m. at the Jubilee House.
Each institution should be represented by its head, accompanied by no more than one relevant technical officer. Participants should come prepared to provide a brief assessment of existing security gaps and propose practical measures to improve intelligence sharing, surveillance, screening, and joint enforcement operations.
Given the urgency and national security implications, your personal attendance is required.
Please accept the highest regards of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic”.
Meanwhile, among the institutions invited are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority and Ghana Police Service.
The National Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Airports Company Limited and other operators within the ports and shipping sector are also expected to participate.
@ghnow_ Beneficiaries go home with a mattress and chop box received from Hon. Nii Commey’s donation exercise in the Domeabra Obom Constituency. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – King Paluta
@ghnow_ Hon. Nii Commey has supported all 32 students who achieved Grade 6 in the BECE with a cash donation each, in recognition of their outstanding performance. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
