Four Ghanaians Remanded Over €225 Million Cocaine Shipment Seized in France

Four Ghanaian nationals have been remanded in custody following their alleged involvement in a massive drug trafficking operation involving approximately four tonnes of cocaine. The suspects—Desmond Koranteng Curiel, Musah Attah, Kweku Otchere, and Jessica Hartog—appeared in court on September 16, 2026, where they were ordered to be held for four weeks. They are accused of conspiring to export the illicit cargo, which has an estimated street value of €225 million (approximately $261.45 million), from Ghana to France.

The case came to light after French authorities intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden within a shipment of plastic waste that originated from Ghana. While the four Ghanaians are currently in state custody, a fifth suspect, a Dutch national identified as Jos Leijdekkers (also known as "Bolle Jos"), remains at large. Investigations are currently focused on tracing the exact departure point of the consignment from Ghana and identifying any potential security breaches at the nation's ports that allowed such a significant volume of narcotics to be exported.

Beyond the immediate arrests, investigative reports suggest that the syndicate's operations in the region may be even more extensive. It is alleged that additional quantities of cocaine linked to the same network remain hidden within Ghana, with plans for future transport to Europe and other international markets. This latest seizure contributes to a staggering total of over 12.7 tonnes of cocaine intercepted in related transnational operations over the past 17 months, highlighting the persistent challenge of drug trafficking through West African corridors.

The four suspects are scheduled to reappear in court on October 13, 2026, as security agencies continue to collaborate with international partners to dismantle the trafficking network. The scale of the seizure has renewed calls for heightened vigilance and stricter oversight at Ghana’s points of entry and exit to prevent the country from being utilized as a major transit hub for global narcotics syndicates.