Customs Port officials deny report on $30m ‘missing cocaine’

Officials at the Tema Port have denied any knowledge of a container carrying bags of cocaine . This follows revelations that 500 kilograms of cocaine worth about 30 million dollars had disappeared from the port.

Media reports indicated that 10 bags of cocaine, hidden in a consignment of rice had vanished from the ports under mysterious circumstances.

According to the reports, a ship alleged to be carrying some containers with cocaine on board arrived at the Tema Port in December 2016 but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23, 2017 when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container.

There were reports that k9 dogs which are specially trained to detect cocaine confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container, while UK’s operation west bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traces of cocaine.

It was also revealed that for over two months, the importer did not show up to clear the rice.

Sources say NACOB officials fixed the 25 of February to undertake compulsory scanning of the container and inform all stakeholders.

However, NACOB sources said intelligence later indicated that one of the containers had been moved to the Golden Jubilee terminal.

When the container was subsequently opened, it was realised that10 bags, each weighing 50kgs were missing from the consignment.

But the Manager in charge of the Tema Fishing Harbour, Joana Adda, however says they are unaware of any such substance in the container.

For now, officials of NACOB have declined comments saying they are awaiting for directives from the Attorney General’s department.

Meanwhile the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), at the Tema Port, is also dismissing claims that 500 kilogrammes of cocaine worth about $30 million dollars is missing at the Tema Port.

They claimed thorough investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), and the Ministry of Interior have revealed that no container with cocaine had been detained at the Port.

Confidence Nyadzi, the sector commander of CEPS at the Tema Port told TV3 “Customs has no role in this matter, to the extent that we have not been informed, we have no knowledge of anything like that.”