Accra, Ghana - Two Nigerians have been arrested in Ghana for their alleged involvement in the importation of 200 kilogrammes of cocaine with a street value of US$ 12 million.
Officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) said the drug was seized at Ghana's eastern seaport of Tema, about 25 km east of Accra, the state-owned Graphic newspaper reported on Monday.
The drug haul, the largest in recent years at the Tema harbour, was concealed in a 40-feet container with 1,946 boxes of shampoo imported from Bolivia in South America.
The newspaper identified the arrested Nigerians as Chief Sunny Ekechukwu Benji Eke, a 53-year-old businessman, and James Elekechukwu, 47, a second-hand clothing dealer in Accra.
It said Chief Eke had been described by international law enforcement agencies as 'a notorious drug baron who had been involved in several drug seizures in Brazil and Bolivia'.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of NACOB, Nii Lante Blankson, said the success of the operation was the result of co-operation among the security agencies in the country.
He said in December last year, NACOB, through its foreign counterparts, received intelligence that the drugs, heading to the Tema harbour from Bolivia, were in a container of cosmetics.
Mr. Blankson said on 29 January, 2013, the cargo docked at the Tema Harbour and officers of NACOB mounted surveillance on it.
After about two weeks, a clearing agent arrived with the necessary documents to clear the goods and he was arrested to assist in investigations.
Mr. Blankson said an inspection of container uncovered the drugs concealed in the cosmetics.
Elekechukwu was then arrested and upon interrogation revealed that the real owner of the goods was Chief Eke.
Mr. Blankson said it took the NACOB over one week of controlled operation to lure Chief Eke back into Ghana where he was arrested.
He had in his possession four Nigerian passports with different names.
Pana 25/02/2013