Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has questioned the National Narcotics Control Commission’s (NACOC) account of Ghana’s involvement in a controlled-delivery operation that led to the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker in Lebanon.
He says public accounts from Lebanese authorities cited in connection with the arrest have not explicitly acknowledged Ghana’s participation in the operation, raising questions about NACOC’s claim that the exercise was jointly coordinated by Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities.
Speaking during a leadership engagement with the Parliamentary Press Corps, Afenyo-Markin referred to NACOC’s November 1 statement, which said the arrest resulted from a coordinated controlled-delivery operation involving the authorities of both countries.
He contrasted that account with information attributed to Lebanese Customs and a statement reportedly made by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
“Yet, the Lebanese Customs Account introduced by El Oren today identifies cooperation between Lebanese Customs and General Security. The reported statement from the Prime Minister Nawaz Salam similar phrases, coordination and information sharing between the two Lebanese agencies. Neither account explicitly acknowledges Ghana’s participation,” he said.
The Effutu MP questioned why NACOC was claiming joint operational credit when the Lebanese public accounts cited did not mention Ghana’s role.
“Why is NACOC claiming joint operational credits when the Lebanese public accounts cited have not acknowledged that role?” he asked.
Afenyo-Markin, however, acknowledged that the absence of an explicit reference to Ghana in the Lebanese accounts did not necessarily establish that Ghanaian agencies were not involved.
“Though missions have not proved that cooperation never occurred, agencies may withhold operational details and public statements may give incomplete accounts,” he said.
He nevertheless challenged NACOC to provide evidence to support its account of the operation.
“But NACOC has to make a strategic claim if it will be able to substantiate it,” he added.
The controversy follows the arrest of a Syrian national at Beirut airport on October 31 after arriving from Accra with approximately 40 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage.
In its November 1 statement, NACOC said the arrest followed a coordinated controlled-delivery operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities.
The Commission said the operation was aimed at identifying targets at both ends of the supply chain and dismantling the transnational criminal network. It also indicated that efforts were underway to arrest suspected accomplices in Ghana.
