The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), in a joint operation with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has intercepted 152 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of sugar from Brazil.

The seizure was based on intelligence that, a consignment of 50 containers of sugar destined for Ghana from Brazil are likely to have substances suspected to be narcotics concealed in it.

The consignment with bill of laden number MEDUST209567 was shipped from Brazil by Usina Santa Isabel S/A Fazenda Tres, a Brazilian Company on behalf of SUCDEN MIDDLE EAST, based in Dubai.

The shipment consists of 27,000 bags of Brazilian white crystal sugar, with a gross weight of 1,350 metric tonnes. Global Cargo & Commodities Limited, Tema was the consignee of the shipment.

Acting on the intelligence, NACOC, together with BNI and NSCS, mounted surveillance on the shipment until the suspected narcotic substances were retrieved from the consignment of sugar on Saturday, September 12, 2020.

With the assistance of some officials from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority stationed at the warehouse, the physical search on the suspected containers and the bags of sugar commenced on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

The suspected narcotics substances were on Saturday, September 12, 2020, found concealed among the bags of sugar in container number MSCU6874205.

Eight bags of sugar were identified to have suspected narcotic substances concealed in each. In all, 150 slabs of substances suspected to be narcotics were retrieved from the consignment under the joint operation.

The exhibits were field tested and proved positive for cocaine. NACOC took custody of the exhibits and subsequently forwarded same to the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for analytical examination and report.

Report from GSA on the exhibits confirmed the substances to be cocaine, with approximate net weight of the 150 slabs being 152.75kg.

Following the seizure, a number of persons have been arrested, and assisting with investigations.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the consignment of sugar was to be delivered to Tradepass GH Limited.