The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three foreign nationals in Ghana over their alleged involvement in an international cocaine trafficking operation linked to the seizure of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon.
The suspects, identified as Syrian, Tunisian and Lebanese nationals, were apprehended during separate intelligence-led operations on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following intelligence shared by Lebanese law enforcement authorities.
Sources indicate that two of the suspects, a man and a woman, were arrested in Accra, while the third individual was apprehended in a separate operation.
The arrests form part of an ongoing international investigation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese security agencies to identify individuals suspected of facilitating the transportation of the cocaine shipment and uncover possible links to a wider transnational drug trafficking network.
46.7kg Cocaine Seized at Beirut International Airport
The latest arrests follow the apprehension of a Syrian national at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Saturday, October 31, after he arrived from Accra on a Middle East Airlines flight carrying cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage.
According to Lebanese Customs authorities, a detailed search of the passenger’s luggage uncovered 40 packages containing a total of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine.
The illicit drugs were reportedly hidden using sophisticated packaging techniques and insulation materials designed to prevent detection by airport scanning equipment.
Electronic tracking devices were also discovered among the packages, raising further concerns about the organisation and sophistication of the suspected international drug trafficking operation.
Lebanese authorities described the seizure as the largest drug bust in the history of Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Investigations Link Cocaine Suspect to Ghana
Preliminary investigations reportedly established that the Syrian suspect had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing from Syria several weeks before the cocaine seizure.
He subsequently travelled to Accra before returning to Beirut with the 46.7kg cocaine consignment, which was intercepted by Lebanese security officials.
The discovery prompted further investigations into the possible involvement of individuals in Ghana and other countries in facilitating the international movement of the narcotics shipment.
NACOC and Lebanese Authorities Conduct Joint Drug Trafficking Operation
NACOC disclosed that the operation leading to the arrest of the suspect in Beirut was part of a coordinated controlled-delivery exercise conducted in collaboration with Lebanese drug enforcement authorities.
The intelligence-led operation was designed to track the movement of the suspected cocaine shipment and identify individuals allegedly involved at different stages of the international drug supply chain.
Authorities also sought to gather critical intelligence that could help identify the masterminds, uncover international connections and dismantle the wider transnational criminal network.
The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by Ghanaian and international security agencies to strengthen border security, combat narcotics trafficking and prevent Ghana from being used as a transit point for illegal drug shipments.
Investigations into the suspected international cocaine trafficking network are continuing.
Source: newsthemegh.com