Four Ghanaians, including a female beautician, have pleaded not guilty to charges including the exportation of tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France, estimated at €225 million.
The accused were arraigned on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and were remanded into lawful custody for two weeks after their applications for bail through their respective lawyers were refused.
They are – Desmond Koranteng Curiel, alias “Paul Kweku Yeboah” or “Biggs” (A1); Musah Attah, alias “Kromo” (A2); Kweku Otchere (A3); and Jessica Hartog (A4).
They, each, denied the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, namely exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence issued by the Minister of Health, contrary to Section 109(c) and 36(1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), and exportation of narcotic drugs contrary to Section 36(1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).
A fifth accused, a foreigner who is a Dutch national and has been named as Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos,” is said to be at large.
Though the defence lawyers, Paul Assibi Abariga, who represented three of the four, and Selarly Woanya, prayed for bail, the court remanded the accused persons. The Republic was represented by state attorneys.
The Vacation High Court, presided over by Justice Charity Akosua Asem has since detained them into lawful custody until October 13, 2026 when the new legal year resumes.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case, witnesses in the case are officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) stationed at the headquarters.
The prosecution stated that the 1st suspect, Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also called Paul Kweku Yeboah, alias “Biggs,” aged 34, is a business broker.
The 2nd suspect, Musah Attah, alias “Kromo,” aged 47, is a farmer, while Kweku Otchere, 32, a businessman, and Jessica Hartog, 34, a beautician and fiancée of the 1st suspect, are the third and fourth accused, respectively.
A fifth suspect, Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos,” is currently at large.
It was the case of the prosecution that in September 2026, NACOC received information on the interception of a 40-foot container said to contain plastic waste originating from Ghana.
It said the container, which was intercepted at Dunkirk, France, was suspected to conceal about four (4) tonnes of a substance suspected to be cocaine, a narcotic drug with a street value of $260 million.
The brief facts added that NACOC commenced investigations and identified the above-named suspects to be connected with the shipment of the container.
On September 12, 2026, it said, authorised officers of NACOC arrested the 1st and 4th accused at Ashale Botwe, whilst the 3rd suspect was arrested at his residence at East Legon.
A search was conducted, leading to the retrieval of three (3) guns, four (4) luxurious cars, passports, ammunition and various sums of money.
On September 14, 2026, the 2nd suspect was arrested at the NACOC headquarters.
It said the 1st suspect, when questioned, indicated that he is a businessman who runs different businesses and denied any knowledge of his involvement in the shipment of any narcotic drugs.
While the 2nd suspect, who claims to be a friend of the 1st suspect, said he does not conduct any business with him.
The 3rd suspect stated that he is a long-time friend of the 1st suspect and is currently working on the construction of the 1st suspect’s apartments at Tse Addo.
In the caution statement of the 4th suspect, she indicated that she is only the fiancée of the 1st suspect and does not know the nature and details of the 1st suspect’s businesses.
Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest all persons involved in the exportation of the suspected narcotic drugs.
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