NACOC Nabs Alleged Mastermind in Ghana-Australia Methamphetamine Export Scheme

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested the suspected principal shipper linked to an attempted export of about 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Ghana to Australia, following a months-long intelligence-led operation in Accra.

The suspect was picked up after three months of coordinated surveillance involving NACOC and other security agencies, culminating in a targeted operation that ran over three nights.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Director-General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, confirmed the arrest.

“Through the efforts of NACOC, in collaboration with the Bureau of National Investigation and other security agencies, I’m happy to announce that we have picked up the lead shipper,” he said.

He added that officers endured sustained field operations during the surveillance period. “My officers slept out of their homes for three months and successfully picked up the person who led that enterprise.”

Further arrests expected

Brigadier General Mantey indicated that the arrest marks only the beginning of a wider operation aimed at dismantling the full network behind the attempted shipment. He said additional arrests are expected as investigations progress.

“This afternoon, we’ll be picking more,” he stated, warning that all individuals implicated would be pursued and prosecuted.

“Whoever is involved, like I always say, it is only God and the courts that can free you. We’ll get to the bottom of this enterprise and make sure that Ghana will not be declared as a narcotic state,” he added.

He further stressed that no suspect would be protected based on status or affiliation. “Whether you are a member of the security agency or wherever you come from, if your name is mentioned or you are suspected based on our intelligence assessment, we will pick you up. Nobody will be spared.”

Australian-linked drug interception

The case is tied to a major seizure in Australia involving two shipping containers that originated from Ghana and were intercepted at Port Botany.

According to the Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police, officers detected irregularities during X-ray screening of the containers in April 2026. The shipment, which was declared as bags of charcoal, was later found to contain a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Forensic analysis confirmed the total quantity at about 320 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of around A$296 million.

Australian authorities have so far charged three individuals in connection with the shipment, including Emaa Hussen, who is known for appearances in an EastEnders spin-off and a film alongside actor Jason Statham.

She has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia and was denied bail. Under Australian law, the offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.