The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has disclosed that preliminary investigations into the interception of a 320-kilogram methamphetamine shipment from Ghana to Australia have allegedly uncovered possible involvement of some government officials suspected of facilitating the concealment and movement of the illicit drugs.
Alhaji Muntaka, who appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Assurance public hearing on Tuesday, said authorities were interrogating several officials as part of efforts to determine the extent of alleged internal collusion within the security system.
“Even as of yesterday, we were still interrogating a lot of government officials. It is not everything I can put out at this stage because we are still investigating and interrogating people. There are a lot of things that are not adding up. You could see that there is some involvement of some people within the system,” he told the committee.
The Minister said the incident had exposed vulnerabilities within Ghana’s border security architecture, stressing that technology alone could not prevent criminal activities if personnel responsible for operating security systems lacked integrity.
“Even if you put all these gadgets in, remember they are going to be operated by human beings. So, if the wrong persons are sitting there, you can bring all the gadgets of this world; it will not be effective,” he stated.
He disclosed that the government had begun reviewing security arrangements at the country’s entry and exit points, including changes to personnel deployment and operational procedures.
“Mr Chairman, we have changed our modus operandi and the way we place personnel. All of this is to make sure we protect our borders,” he said.
The Minister assured Parliament that investigations were ongoing and further updates would be provided once authorities establish the full circumstances surrounding the shipment.
The development follows the seizure by Australian authorities of about 320 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in two shipping containers declared as carrying charcoal from Ghana to Sydney’s Port Botany.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) said the containers, which arrived in April 2026, were subjected to X-ray examination after officers detected irregularities.
The suspicious substance discovered within the charcoal cargo was later confirmed through forensic testing to be methamphetamine.
Australian authorities estimated the seized drugs to have a street value of approximately A$296 million (about US$208 million), with the quantity capable of supplying millions of street-level drug transactions.
Following the seizure, Australian investigators launched a wider operation targeting individuals allegedly connected to the trafficking network. Three suspects have since been arrested and are facing charges before Australian courts.
Among those arrested was United Kingdom-based actress Emaa Hussen, who investigators allege supervised the unloading of bags from one of the containers at a storage facility in Girraween, western Sydney.
Police said a subsequent search of a residence in Blacktown led to the recovery of bags believed to have previously contained methamphetamine, as well as electronic devices and documents.
She has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, an offence that carries a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Two other suspects were also arrested in South Australia after investigators allegedly linked them to attempts to secure storage facilities using false identities.
The seizure has intensified scrutiny of Ghana’s ports, cargo inspection procedures and security systems, with stakeholders questioning how the containers were cleared before leaving the country.
Security and anti-narcotics experts have renewed calls for stronger surveillance, improved intelligence coordination and enhanced accountability among officials responsible for safeguarding Ghana’s borders.
