Kwabenya Circuit Court adjourns 3.9-tonne cocaine case to November 5

The Kwabenya Circuit Court has adjourned the trial of six individuals accused of facilitating the shipment of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France. The proceedings, which involve a massive narcotics consignment valued at approximately €225 million, have been rescheduled to November 5, 2026. The adjournment follows a legal challenge from one of the accused, Helena Akua Denkyi, a contract staff member of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), who is seeking to have her name removed from the charge sheet.

The application to strike out the charges against Denkyi was filed by her legal team on September 30. However, the court was only recently notified of the motion, necessitating the delay to allow for proper consideration of the request. Denkyi and other GRA personnel face charges of abetment related to the exportation of the illicit substances. Prosecutors allege that the officials failed to flag suspicious contents within a shipping container that was eventually intercepted by authorities in Dunkirk, France.

The narcotics, which represent one of the largest seizures linked to Ghana, were concealed within a container declared as plastic waste. International law enforcement discovered the 3.9 tonnes of cocaine upon the vessel's arrival in France, triggering an extensive investigation into the security and scanning protocols at Ghanaian ports. The estimated street value of the haul is €225 million, making it a high-priority case for both domestic and international agencies.

The scale of the trafficking operation has drawn significant attention from the executive branch. President John Dramani Mahama has already received a preliminary report on the investigation and continues to be updated on the progress of the case. As the court prepares for the November 5 hearing, the focus remains on whether the application to discharge Denkyi will be granted and how it might impact the trial of the remaining five suspects.