NACOC arrests freight forwarder in Tema over 2.6-tonne cocaine seizure in Spain

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has apprehended a 43-year-old freight forwarder in connection to the recent discovery of approximately 2.6 tonnes of cocaine in Spain. The suspect, who runs a freight forwarding company in Tema, was taken into custody by NACOC officers on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at around 3 pm. This arrest came after an investigation into a shipment intercepted by Spanish authorities.

According to a NACOC source, preliminary findings indicate that the suspect was involved in the processing of customs documentation for the shipment. The shipment was initially delivered to the suspect's company by an agent who reportedly supplied the necessary details to prepare and process customs documents on behalf of the exporters.

The NACOC is currently probing the specifics of the shipment and the involvement of other individuals suspected to be part of the illicit operation. Following his arrest, the 43-year-old freight forwarder is being held at NACOC's detention facility to aid the ongoing investigation. Efforts are also being made to locate and apprehend other individuals allegedly linked to the suspected cocaine trafficking operation.

The arrest is in response to the seizure of roughly 2.6 tonnes of cocaine by Spanish law enforcement at the Port of Valencia in August 2026. The drugs were hidden in false compartments beneath wooden crates meant to transport coconuts from Ghana. The two shipping containers departed from Tema Port on 2 August and reached Valencia 20 days later.

Spanish investigators detected the cocaine after flagging the containers for inspection. They later traced the consignment to a warehouse in Almería, where two men were taken into custody while the cargo was being unloaded.