NACOC Charges 5 Over Methamphetamine Shipment

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NACOC Charges 5 Over 320kg Meth Shipment to Australia

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arraigned five Ghanaians before the Accra High Court over the alleged exportation of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a consignment of coconut charcoal from Ghana 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 the prosecution’s brief of facts filed at the High Court, the suspected methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $208 million.

Australian authorities have separately confirmed that about 320kg of methamphetamine was discovered in two containers that arrived from Ghana. The Australian Federal Police estimated the street value of the shipment at A$296 million.

Five charged over alleged drug shipment

The accused persons are 58-year-old Mercy Nelly Nyadzi, a freight forwarder and proprietor of Freight Plus Ghana Ltd.; freight forwarder Collins Yaw Antwi; and Customs officer James Donkor.

Two other suspects, James Osei Frimpong, alias “Bro Yaw”, and Frank, are currently at large.

The five have been charged with conspiracy to commit a 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 alleges that the accused persons were involved in a scheme to export the narcotic substance from Ghana to Australia.

Shipment originated from Tema

According to the prosecution, investigations began after NACOC received intelligence from the Australian Border Force concerning the seizure at Port Botany.

The shipment consisted of one 20-foot container and one 40-foot container, which departed Tema Port around December 20, 2025, aboard the vessel MSC VIGO and was bound for Sydney.

Shipping documents identified Freight Plus Ghana Ltd., based in Sakumono-Tema, as the shipper.

Investigators subsequently arrested Nyadzi at her residence in Sakumono, Tema, Antwi at Kpone and Donkor at the NACOC headquarters.

The prosecution alleges that Frimpong contracted Nyadzi to facilitate the export of coconut shell charcoal to Australia.

The brief further states that Frimpong allegedly obtained the charcoal from Pantang and Katamanso, while Frank assisted in procuring the charcoal and later helped with loading the containers.

Customs officer accused over inspection

James Donkor, a Customs Export Examination Officer, is alleged to have been assigned to inspect the two containers and authorise their release for export.

During interrogation, Donkor allegedly admitted that he conducted a non-intrusive front-view examination of both containers before authorising their release.

However, investigators say inconsistencies were identified in his account.

The prosecution alleges that Donkor prepared an inspection report for only the 20-foot container and failed to prepare a corresponding report for the 40-foot container, describing the omission as an oversight.

Investigators also say Donkor was unable to produce photographs that should ordinarily have been uploaded onto the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) as part of the inspection process.

According to the investigation, Donkor said the photographs could not be found.

Freight forwarders linked to export permit

The prosecution further alleges that Nyadzi engaged Collins Antwi to obtain the necessary permit for the charcoal export.

Antwi allegedly secured an export permit from the Energy Commission using Linah Cole Ltd., a licensed charcoal exporter, even though his own company, Freight Plus Ghana Ltd., was not registered or licensed to export charcoal.

Investigators allege that Nyadzi nevertheless accepted the assignment.

The prosecution also claims that Frimpong financed the shipment and made payments relating to the exportation on Nyadzi’s behalf.

Frimpong and Frank remain at large as investigations continue.

Australian authorities investigate seizure

The Ghanaian investigation follows a major operation by Australian authorities after the containers arrived at Port Botany in Sydney.

The Australian Federal Police said border officers detected anomalies in the containers and conducted further examinations, including X-ray screening. A white crystalline substance discovered concealed among the charcoal was subsequently confirmed through forensic testing to be methamphetamine.

Three people, including a British woman and an Australian couple, have since been charged in Australia in connection with the alleged importation.

NACOC subsequently launched investigations in Ghana and began working with security agencies and international partners to identify and apprehend individuals connected to the shipment.

The Commission later announced the arrest of a suspected lead shipper in Ghana following months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.