Sammi Awuku Demands Answers Over 46.7kg Cocaine Shipment From Accra to Beirut

Akuapem North MP Sammi Awuku has called on the government to provide further explanations following the seizure of 46.7 kilograms of cocaine at Lebanon’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, raising concerns about Ghana’s airport security systems and the country’s fight against drug trafficking.

In a Facebook post titled “46.7KG of Cocaine from Accra: Government Must Answer the Hard Questions”, Mr Awuku questioned how such a substantial quantity of the illicit drug was able to leave Ghana aboard a commercial flight from Kotoka International Airport.

The shipment was reportedly transported from Accra to Beirut aboard Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576, where Lebanese authorities intercepted it.

According to Mr Awuku, the circumstances surrounding the seizure raise important questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s aviation security, intelligence gathering and anti-drug trafficking systems. He expressed particular concern over reports that the suspect had been under surveillance and was allegedly connected to an organised smuggling operation.

The Akuapem North MP questioned why approximately 40 packages of cocaine, reportedly concealed through sophisticated methods, were able to pass through security procedures at Kotoka International Airport without being intercepted.

Mr Awuku’s concerns followed an earlier statement by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), which explained that the arrest was the outcome of a coordinated controlled delivery operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug enforcement authorities.

While acknowledging the clarification, the former NLA Director-General said it raised additional questions about Ghana’s specific contribution to the operation.

He asked what role Ghanaian security agencies played in identifying, tracking and facilitating the arrest of the suspect, and why the shipment was allowed to leave Kotoka International Airport if the operation was coordinated in advance.

Mr Awuku acknowledged that controlled delivery operations are legitimate law enforcement strategies that can help investigators identify and apprehend other members of organised criminal networks. However, he insisted that the government must explain the safeguards put in place and the results achieved by Ghanaian authorities.

The MP also drew attention to President John Dramani Mahama’s reported directive giving security agency heads two weeks to develop a roadmap to prevent the movement of illicit drugs into and out of Ghana.

He expressed concern that the country was entering the second month without a public update on the promised roadmap or concrete measures resulting from the directive. “Where is the roadmap?” he asked.

Mr Awuku argued that incidents involving international drug trafficking should not be treated as isolated developments, warning that they could undermine Ghana’s international reputation and raise questions about the integrity of its aviation security arrangements.

The MP maintained that although international cooperation in combating drug trafficking was welcome, Ghanaians deserved transparency about the involvement of local security institutions in the Beirut operation.

He called for answers on how the cocaine passed through Kotoka International Airport, the extent of Ghana’s intelligence involvement, and the measures being implemented to prevent similar incidents. His comments add to growing public scrutiny of Ghana’s efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and strengthen security at its international entry and exit points.

The government and relevant security agencies are now expected to provide further clarity on the operation and the status of the proposed national anti-drug trafficking roadmap.

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Emmanuel Frimpong Emmanuel Frimpong is the Managing Editor of GhanaFeed.Com.

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