“Why Let the Drugs Leave Ghana Before Arresting?” –Kofi Bentil Questions NACOC After Syrian’s Arrest

Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has expressed concern over Ghana’s efforts to combat drug trafficking following the arrest of a Syrian national in Lebanon with approximately 40 kilograms of suspected cocaine.

The suspect was reportedly arrested on October 31, 2026, at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut after arriving from Accra. The suspected narcotics were allegedly concealed in his luggage.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest, explaining that it resulted from a joint intelligence-led operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese security agencies.

The commission disclosed that investigations were ongoing to dismantle an international drug trafficking network and identify other individuals suspected of involvement in the operation within Ghana.

Reacting to the development, Bentil questioned the effectiveness of Ghana’s domestic anti-drug measures, expressing disappointment over the country’s continued links to international cocaine trafficking incidents.

In a Facebook post, he challenged NACOC to pay greater attention to suspected drug trafficking activities within Ghana rather than concentrating primarily on airports, seaports and international borders.

Bentil argued that security agencies must investigate how illegal substances are transported and stored locally, insisting that individuals behind such activities should be identified and arrested before the drugs leave the country.

He also raised concerns about possible weaknesses in intelligence gathering, surveillance and the monitoring of suspected criminal networks operating within Ghana.

The IMANI Africa executive called for a more comprehensive approach that would enable authorities to disrupt drug trafficking operations at their source instead of depending largely on interceptions and arrests abroad.

The incident has renewed discussions about Ghana’s role in international drug trafficking and intensified calls for stronger domestic enforcement measures to dismantle criminal networks.

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