A 23-year-old British woman, Browne-Frater Chyna Jada, was arrested at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, after authorities discovered 32 slabs of cannabis weighing 17.72 kilograms inside her suitcase. The estimated street value of this seizure is approximately £172,000 ($232,960). Jada was attempting to board a British Airways flight destined for London Gatwick when the drugs were found during a routine search.
This incident is part of a larger trend in drug trafficking at international airports. On the same day, another British national, 19-year-old Owusu Williams Christian, was detained at the same airport. Christian had arrived in Accra on an Emirates flight from Dubai, where officers found 92 slabs of a substance suspected to be narcotic drugs, totaling 53.6 kilograms of cannabis.
The Ghanaian Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) emphasized its commitment to combating drug trafficking and has noted a significant increase in cannabis seizures at airports. Last year, nearly 27,000 kilograms of cannabis were confiscated from smugglers at UK airports, marking a fivefold increase compared to 2023. Heathrow Airport was particularly notable, where officials arrested 430 individuals and seized 14,317 kilograms of cannabis.
A majority of those arrested for drug smuggling in the UK are British citizens, with Thailand frequently identified as the origin point for many trafficking operations. In response to the ongoing issue of drug smuggling, the UK Border Force has implemented a new pilot program. Under this initiative, drug mules apprehended in the UK will no longer face arrest; instead, they will be returned to their home countries to be processed by local authorities. This three-month trial aims to reduce the number of foreign nationals incarcerated in UK prisons for drug offenses.
The NACOC continues to work tirelessly to address the challenges posed by drug trafficking and has reiterated its dedication to enforcing drug laws and promoting public safety.
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