Beirut:A Syrian national identified by his initials, B.H., was arrested at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport after arriving from Ghana with 40 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in two suitcases. The arrest has raised concerns about potential bribery and security lapses at Ghana's main international airport.
According to Ghana Web, Lebanese customs sources allege that the suspect bribed officials at the airport in Accra to facilitate the transportation of the drugs. However, the specific amount of the bribe and the identities of the officials involved have not been disclosed. The case has highlighted questions about an international drug trafficking network and potential complicity within airport security systems.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) reported that B.H. was allegedly promised $3,000 to transport the cocaine from Ghana to Lebanon. Lebanese security agencies had received intelligence on his journey and monitored his movements upon his arrival in Beirut. Customs and General Security officers arrested him at the baggage collection area, where they discovered 40 packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogramme, hidden in the suitcases.
Lebanese customs authorities reported the total weight of the seized items, including packaging, at 46.7 kilogrammes, while General Security recorded the net cocaine weight as 40 kilogrammes. AirTag tracking devices were found in the suitcases, suggesting they were intended to monitor the consignment.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana confirmed that the arrest resulted from a coordinated intelligence-led operation between Ghanaian and Lebanese law enforcement agencies. NACOC described the operation as a controlled delivery exercise aimed at intercepting the shipment and identifying individuals involved in the trafficking operation. Investigations continue in Ghana to apprehend additional suspects.
According to LBCI, Brigadier General Misbah Khalil of Lebanon's Higher Customs Council contacted Ghanaian officials for information exchange to trace the operation's origins and the intended recipient of the drugs. B.H. had reportedly entered Lebanon legally before traveling to Accra and returning to Beirut with the cocaine consignment. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities yet to publicly identify the individual expected to receive the drugs.
Source Ghana Web