The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arraigned five Ghanaians before the Accra High Court over the alleged export of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a consignment of coconut charcoal to Australia.
The case follows the seizure of the narcotic substance by Australian authorities at Port Botany in Sydney after the shipment, declared as bags of coconut charcoal, was subjected to examination.
According to a report by 3News.com on August 17, 2026, the prosecution’s brief of facts filed at the Accra High Court said the suspected methamphetamine had an estimated street value of $208 million.
“Australian authorities have separately valued the shipment at approximately A$296 million,” the report stated.
The accused are 58-year-old freight forwarder and proprietor of Freight Plus Ghana Ltd., Mercy Nelly Nyadzi; freight forwarder Collins Yaw Antwi; and Customs officer James Donkor.
Two other suspects, James Osei Frimpong, alias ‘Bro Yaw’, and a man identified only as Frank, are currently at large.
The accused persons face charges of conspiracy to commit crime, namely the exportation of narcotic drugs; abetment of the exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence; possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority for the purpose of trafficking; and exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence issued by the Minister responsible for Health.
The prosecution said investigations began after NACOC received intelligence from the Australian Border Force about the seizure at Port Botany.
The consignment comprised one 20-foot and one 40-foot container, which departed the Tema Port around December 20, 2025, aboard the MSC VIGO and was bound for Sydney.
Shipping documents identified Freight Plus Ghana Ltd., based in Sakumono-Tema, as the shipper.
Prosecutors allege that Frimpong contracted Nyadzi to facilitate the export of coconut shell charcoal to Australia, while Frank assisted in procuring the charcoal and loading the containers.
Nyadzi was later arrested at her residence in Sakumono, Tema, while Antwi was arrested at Kpone. Donkor was arrested at NACOC headquarters.
“The prosecution alleges that Donkor, a Customs Export Examination Officer, was assigned to inspect the two containers and authorise their release for export,” the report indicated.
During interrogation, Donkor reportedly admitted conducting a non-intrusive front-view examination of both containers before authorising their release.
However, investigators say he prepared an inspection report for only the 20-foot container and failed to prepare a corresponding report for the 40-foot container.
He reportedly described the omission as an oversight.
Investigators also said Donkor could not produce photographs which should ordinarily have been uploaded onto the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) as part of the inspection process.
“The prosecution further alleges that Nyadzi engaged Antwi to obtain an export permit for the charcoal,” the report said.
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Antwi allegedly obtained the permit from the Energy Commission using Linah Cole Ltd., a licensed charcoal exporter, although Freight Plus Ghana Ltd. was neither registered nor licensed to export charcoal.
The prosecution also alleges that Frimpong financed the shipment and made payments relating to the exportation on Nyadzi’s behalf.
Frimpong and Frank remain at large.
According to the Australian Federal Police, border officers detected anomalies in the two containers at Port Botany and subjected them to X-ray screening.
The screening allegedly revealed a white crystalline substance hidden among the charcoal, which forensic testing later confirmed as methamphetamine.
Three people, including a British woman and an Australian couple, have since been charged in Australia in connection with the alleged importation.
Following the seizure, NACOC launched investigations in Ghana in collaboration with other security agencies and international partners.
The Commission subsequently announced the arrest of a suspected lead shipper in Ghana following about three months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
The Ghanaian investigation is ongoing, with Frimpong and Frank still being sought by the authorities.
