Beirut Cocaine Bust: Adib Saani accuses NACOC of damage control

Security analyst Adib Saani has demanded accountability from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) over the arrest of a Syrian national in Lebanon with 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine allegedly transported from Accra, questioning why such a substantial consignment was allowed to leave Ghana.

The seizure at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Saturday, October 31, 2026, has triggered concerns about Ghana’s border security and the country’s role in international drug trafficking, with Saani describing the incident as a major embarrassment to the country.

The Lebanese authorities have described the seizure as the largest drug bust in the airport’s history.

However, NACOC has maintained that the arrest was the outcome of a coordinated controlled delivery operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug law enforcement agencies.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, the Commission said the operation was designed to identify and apprehend individuals at both ends of the drug supply chain while gathering intelligence to dismantle the wider international criminal network.

It also disclosed that efforts were underway to identify and arrest suspected accomplices in Ghana.

But Saani, who writes for the Jatikay Centre, is unconvinced by NACOC’s explanation, describing it as unsatisfactory and raising concerns that it could amount to an attempt at damage control.

In a Facebook post titled 'Beirut Cocaine Seizure: NACOC's Damage Control Raises More Questions Than Answers', he questioned why the suspect was permitted to travel through Accra International Airport with such a significant quantity of suspected narcotics if Ghanaian authorities had prior knowledge of the shipment. "If NACOC knew about the cocaine shipment, why was the suspect allowed to depart Accra International Airport with such a substantial quantity of narcotics?" he asked.

He further demanded details about when the drugs were detected, the safeguards put in place and the evidence supporting NACOC's claim of operational collaboration with Lebanese authorities.

Saani also questioned why the initial communication from Lebanese authorities credited their Customs and General Security agencies without explicitly acknowledging Ghana's involvement in the operation.

He wants NACOC to clarify whether the exercise was indeed a controlled delivery and whether the intended recipient of the consignment was identified before the suspect's arrest in Beirut.

Another concern raised by the security analyst is the difference between the quantities reported by the two countries.

While NACOC put the suspected cocaine consignment at approximately 40 kilogrammes, Lebanese Customs reported a total seizure of 46.7 kilogrammes. Saani believes the discrepancy requires a clear explanation from the Commission. He also questioned whether any individuals suspected of facilitating the movement of the drugs through Ghana had been arrested, insisting that the investigation must not end with the arrest of the Syrian national in Lebanon. The Lebanese General Directorate of Customs said the cocaine was discovered in 40 packages concealed using sophisticated packaging and insulation materials designed to evade airport scanning equipment. Electronic tracking devices were also reportedly found inside the packages.

Preliminary investigations by Lebanese authorities indicated that the suspect, identified only by his initials, B.H., had entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing several weeks earlier before travelling to Accra and returning with the consignment.

Investigators are reportedly working to establish the intended recipient of the drugs, identify those who dispatched the shipment and track down other individuals linked to the suspected trafficking operation. For Saani, the incident goes beyond the arrest of one suspected drug courier, warning that repeated incidents of narcotics shipments departing Ghana could damage the country's international reputation and undermine confidence in its security institutions.

He cautioned that Ghana risked becoming an attractive transit point for international drug trafficking syndicates if weaknesses in its enforcement systems were not addressed.

"Controlled deliveries are legitimate law enforcement techniques. However, invoking the term should not become a convenient excuse for operational failures," he stated.

He further warned against what he described as a tendency for security agencies to celebrate international cooperation without providing the public with convincing explanations about the circumstances surrounding major drug interceptions.

"We cannot continue tolerating a situation where foreign security agencies intercept massive drug shipments departing Ghana while our institutions issue statements celebrating cooperation without providing convincing answers," he said.

The security analyst is therefore demanding a thorough investigation into the shipment, accountability from the relevant institutions and decisive action against anyone found to have facilitated the operation. "HEADS MUST ROLL," he declared.

He insisted that Ghana's security agencies must demonstrate competence, accountability and tangible results in the fight against international drug trafficking, rather than relying on public relations statements to reassure the public.

"Ghana must not become a safe departure point for international drug traffickers," he added.