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Accra, Ghana — September 17, 2026: Four Ghanaians arrested in connection with the alleged exportation of nearly four tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France have been formally charged and arraigned before the High Court in Accra.
The suspects are Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also known as “Paul Kweku Yeboah” or “Biggs”; Musah Attah, alias “Kromo”; Kweku Otchere; and Jessica Hartog.
They appeared before the court on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following investigations by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) into the shipment seized by French customs authorities.
The four accused persons have been remanded for four weeks and are expected to return to court on October 13, 2026.
A fifth person identified as Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos”, remains at large, according to the authorities.
Two Charges Filed Against the Four
The accused persons are facing two charges.
They have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically the alleged exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence issued by the Minister of Health.
They are also facing a separate charge of exporting narcotic drugs.
The charges were filed at the High Court on Wednesday, with the matter heard shortly afterwards.
The accused persons have not been convicted of the allegations against them.
Cocaine Worth €225 Million Seized in France
The case stems from a major seizure by French customs officials at the northern French port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.
French authorities reportedly discovered approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed inside a container carrying plastic waste.
The container had arrived from Ghana, while part of the consignment was reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium.
French authorities estimated the street value of the cocaine at approximately €225 million, making the seizure one of the major international narcotics cases currently linked to Ghana.
NACOC Investigation Expands in Ghana
Following the seizure in France, NACOC announced the arrest of suspects in Ghana as investigators sought to establish how the shipment was organised and moved out of the country.
According to NACOC, some of the suspects are alleged to have represented or facilitated the activities of Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos”, in Ghana.
The Commission has been cooperating with French authorities to obtain additional information about the seized shipment.
The information is expected to assist Ghanaian investigators in tracing the movement of the container and establishing the circumstances surrounding its departure from Ghana.
Dutch Fugitive Named as Fifth Accused
Jos Leijdekkers has been named as a fifth accused person in the case but is currently at large.
His alleged connection to the Ghanaian suspects forms part of the investigation being pursued by Ghanaian authorities.
The inclusion of an alleged international fugitive in the case also highlights the cross-border nature of the investigation, with authorities in Ghana and France working to establish the full network behind the shipment.
A Case With International Implications
The case extends beyond Ghana’s borders because the suspected narcotics movement involved multiple jurisdictions.
The shipment reportedly originated from Ghana, was intercepted in France and was partly destined for Belgium.
This means investigators will need to establish not only who allegedly organised the shipment, but also how the cocaine entered the supply chain, who financed or facilitated the operation, and who was expected to receive the consignment.
The answers could provide authorities with a clearer picture of the wider network allegedly involved.
African360 Analysis: The Investigation Is Now Moving to the Next Stage
The High Court proceedings mark a significant development from the initial seizure.
The focus has now shifted from what French customs discovered to who allegedly organised the shipment and how the operation was carried out.
Four people are now before the Ghanaian courts, while a fifth accused person is said to be at large.
However, the court process must be allowed to establish the facts.
The charges are allegations, and the accused persons are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty by a court.
At the same time, the scale of the seizure means the investigation will likely attract considerable public attention.
Nearly four tonnes of cocaine, a shipment valued at approximately €225 million, and alleged links to an internationally wanted Dutch fugitive make this a case that authorities will be expected to pursue thoroughly.
The critical questions now include:
How did the shipment leave Ghana?
Who allegedly financed and organised it?
Who was supposed to receive the cocaine?
Were there other people or institutions involved?
And perhaps most importantly, can Ghanaian and international investigators uncover the entire network rather than only those who have already been arrested?
As the four accused persons prepare to return to court on October 13, the answers could determine the direction of one of Ghana’s most closely watched international narcotics investigations.
