Why no evidence? – Martin Kpebu clashes with Twum-Barimah over Beirut cocaine bust

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has challenged the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Alexander Twum-Barimah, over claims that his outfit supervised the controlled delivery in the Beirut cocaine bust.

The outspoken legal practitioner questioned why there was no video evidence to prove that officials had indeed monitored the Syrian man involved in the bust.

He also raised concerns about allegations that some Ghanaian officials were bribed during the operation to allow the cocaine to leave the country undetected, resulting in international embarrassment for Ghana.

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“So, being a controlled delivery, I expect that it would have been videoed. Somebody at the port would have recorded how the guy went through and would have seen the officer who took that. This society is a very strong one. You can't come and tell Ghanaians you are conducting a controlled delivery when you don't have it videoed.

“Then, number two, how come the Lebanese authorities are saying we are doing controlled delivery?” he said while speaking on The Key Points, aired on TV3 on November 7, 2026.

He continued: “You haven't coordinated in a way that, in Lebanon, the story has been splashed that we, as officers, have been bribed $3,000. You know what that does to our image?

“So I expect that the security agencies involved in the controlled delivery, including General Security and Customs, would have given a briefing that would absolve us of the $3,000 allegation. Now we have been named and shamed. What kind of controlled delivery is this? They are saying we've been bribed. How? How do you conduct a controlled delivery that results in shame for Ghana?”

In response, Twum-Barimah rejected the bribery allegations, insisting that no evidence had been produced to substantiate them and that they should therefore be disregarded.

He also clarified that controlled delivery does not necessarily involve recording the suspect on camera, explaining that NACOC has internal procedures for handling such operations.

“The role of Lebanon in the world. I was quiet, quiet, and listening. I'm sorry. You mentioned that somebody has taken $3,000. And in this case, you and I understand it's far better because it's your own. It's because of what he's making. The person has not tendered any evidence to support what he has written. We don't know how true or false that is. The only thing that can bring out the truth or the lies in that statement that you have made is an investigation.

“Again, let me make it loud and clear here. We don't do controlled delivery by putting a camera behind someone and videoing the person. We have internal officers who observe things. We don't put you on video. But don't forget, even at the airport, I have had it on video. You are making two different things. Cameras are always at the airport,” he responded.

The investigation follows the arrest of a Syrian man at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport on Saturday, October 31, after he arrived from Accra with cocaine allegedly concealed in two suitcases.

Lebanese Customs officials reportedly found 40 packages containing 46.7 kilogrammes of the substance during a search of his luggage.

The cocaine had allegedly been concealed using special packaging and insulation materials to avoid detection by scanning equipment.

Watch the video below:

Beirut Cocaine Bust: "How come the controlled delivery was not captured on video?"

- Private legal practitioner clashes with Alexander Twum-Barimah, Deputy Director General, Narcotics Control Commission

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— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) November 7, 2026

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