Main suspect behind $260m cocaine shipment from Ghana to France arrested

The main suspect behind the attempted smuggling of over 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $261.45 million, from Ghana to France has reportedly been arrested.

A report by nltimes.nl identified the suspect as a man in Dordrecht whose shipment contained cocaine which was seized by French customs officers at the port of Dunkirk on Monday, August 31, 2026.

The report indicated that the Dordrecht man was arrested on Friday, September 4, 2026, and arraigned before the court on Monday, September 7, 2026.

It added that the suspect is also accused of being in charge of preparatory work for importing cocaine shipments into the Netherlands earlier in 2026.

“The man was arraigned on Thursday and remanded into custody for another two weeks. He is in restricted custody. That means he is only allowed contact with his lawyers, and the authorities are restricted to sharing only limited information about the investigation,” parts of the report read.

From Australia to France: Major international drug busts linked to Ghana in recent times

About the bust:

French customs confiscated the cocaine shipment at the northern French port of Dunkirk on Thursday.

The cocaine was concealed inside a container carrying plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. The shipment was reportedly destined, in part, for Antwerp, Belgium.

The drugs have since been destroyed, while French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the seizure.

According to the report, France's judicial police had been targeting the criminal network allegedly behind the shipment before the cocaine was seized.

The investigation includes charges of organised narcotics importation and participation in a criminal association, offences that carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. So far, no arrests or involvement of security officials from Ghana in the bust have been announced.

BAI

Stan Dogbe Orders Kpeshie Lagoon Restoration After Demolition of Illegal Structures