French Customs Seize Cocaine Worth $260 Million Inside Shipment From Ghana

DUNKIRK, France — September 11, 2026: French customs authorities have seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed inside a container of plastic waste that arrived at the port of Dunkirk from Ghana.

The shipment, valued at approximately €225 million (about US$260 million) on the street, was intercepted after French authorities identified a suspected organised criminal network behind the consignment.

According to reports, the container was carrying plastic waste and had originated in Ghana. Part of the shipment was reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium, before French customs officers intervened at Dunkirk.

The seizure is one of the major cocaine interceptions reported by French customs in recent years and highlights the continued use of legitimate commercial cargo to move illegal drugs into Europe.

French authorities said the cocaine has since been destroyed, while France’s organised crime prosecutor has opened a formal investigation into the suspected trafficking network. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the shipment and the people believed to be involved.

Those found responsible could face serious criminal charges, including organised importation of narcotics and participation in a criminal association, offences that can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years under French law.

The case also underscores growing international cooperation in tackling the movement of cocaine through European ports. Authorities across Europe have increasingly focused on containers arriving from regions used as transit points for narcotics destined for European markets.

For Ghana, the seizure is likely to renew attention on the country’s role in international maritime trade and the need for stronger controls to prevent legitimate export shipments from being exploited by international trafficking networks.

Authorities have not indicated that the Ghanaian exporter or any specific individuals in Ghana were involved in the alleged trafficking operation. The investigation remains ongoing.

The seizure does not by itself establish wrongdoing by the legitimate parties connected to the shipment, and any individuals ultimately accused will be entitled to due process.