Desmond Koranteng Curiel and Three Others Remanded Over €225 Million Cocaine Shipment Intercepted in France

Four Ghanaians have been remanded in custody by a Ghanaian court following their alleged involvement in an international narcotics conspiracy to export approximately four tonnes of cocaine to France. The suspects, identified as Desmond Koranteng Curiel, Musah Attah, Kweku Otchere, and Jessica Hartog, appeared in court on September 16, 2026, facing charges related to a massive shipment valued at an estimated €225 million. The case emerged after French authorities intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of the illicit substance meticulously concealed within a consignment of plastic waste originating from Ghana. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the four individuals are believed to be part of a sophisticated syndicate. While the four Ghanaians are currently in custody, a fifth suspect, Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch national, remains at large and is being sought by international law enforcement agencies. Investigations are reportedly ongoing both locally and internationally to trace the exact logistics of the shipment’s departure from Ghana. Reports indicate that the crackdown has also led to the seizure of luxury vehicles and significant amounts of cash, highlighting the scale of the operation and the lifestyle associated with the alleged traffickers. In a separate but concurrent enforcement action, the Wa District Magistrate Court has remanded two additional suspects in connection with cocaine trafficking. This secondary case involves the discovery and seizure of 192 compressed wraps of cocaine. While this local bust is smaller in scale compared to the multi-million Euro international shipment, it underscores an intensified effort by Ghanaian security agencies to dismantle drug distribution networks across various regions of the country. The four suspects involved in the France-bound shipment have been remanded for four weeks and are scheduled to reappear in court on October 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the suspects in the Wa case are expected back in court on October 9, 2026. These high-profile arrests come at a time of increased scrutiny regarding Ghana’s role as a transit point for international narcotics, with judicial and security services under pressure to ensure thorough investigations and successful prosecutions to deter future trafficking attempts.