Two Energy Commission staff caged over Aussie $208m methamphetamine shipment

Two officials of the Energy Commission have been arrested and detained by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as investigations intensify into the smuggling of $208 million worth of methamphetamine (meth) concealed in a consignment of charcoal from Ghana to Australia.

According to sources, the two officials were taken into custody to assist with investigations because of their alleged role in the approval process for the charcoal export.

Investigators say the detained officials may have information on how the shipment was cleared and whether proper export procedures were followed.

The arrest, according to state officials, forms part of a broader probe to uncover those behind the alleged trafficking network and to determine if there were any breaches or compromises in the export approval system.

While names of the alleged suspects have not been disclosed, authorities say investigations are still ongoing and the public will be updated as more details emerge.

Investigators suspect the charcoal was laced with methamphetamine in what is believed to be part of an international drug trafficking operation.

Before the detainment of the two Energy Commission staff, four other persons (names withheld) including a woman were arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission for their alleged involvement in the smuggling.

The commission arrested the first suspect, who works at the Tema Harbour and facilitated the documentation of the consignment.

The first suspect then led NACOC officers to the other two suspects, who were arrested in Kumasi, and the fourth suspect was arrested later in Accra.

All four suspects were under intense investigations.

Australian police launched an investigation in April after border authorities detected anomalies in two shipping containers that had arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana.

Authorities found a “white crystalised substance” after they X-rayed the contents of the containers, which were listed as bags of charcoal. Further testing confirmed it was meth.

By Prince Fiifi Yorke