Syrian arrested in Lebanon with 40kg of suspected cocaine after leaving Ghana

A Syrian national has been arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, with approximately 40 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage after arriving from Accra, Ghana.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) said the arrest occurred on Saturday, October 31, 2026, following a coordinated operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese drug law enforcement authorities.

In a press release dated November 1, 2026, NACOC confirmed the arrest, explaining that it resulted from a controlled delivery exercise conducted through cooperation between the two countries.

The commission said the operation was aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the suspected drug trafficking activity and gathering intelligence to dismantle the wider criminal network behind the shipment.

“The joint operation aimed to identify and apprehend targets at both ends of the supply chain while gathering vital intelligence to dismantle the broader transnational criminal syndicate behind the shipment,” the statement said.

NACOC disclosed that investigations were ongoing in Ghana to identify and arrest other individuals suspected of involvement in the operation.

“As part of ongoing operation, NACOC is working to arrest his accomplices in Ghana,” the commission stated.

The planned arrests form part of efforts to investigate the suspected trafficking network beyond the individual apprehended in Lebanon.

The commission also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling drug trafficking, noting that intelligence-sharing between countries was essential to disrupting criminal networks operating across borders.

“This successful apprehension resulted from a coordinated controlled delivery exercise, carried out through close operational cooperation between Ghanaian and Lebanese drug law enforcement authorities,” the statement said.

NACOC further stressed the shared commitment of Ghana and Lebanon to combating international drug trafficking through coordinated enforcement operations and the exchange of intelligence.

“This operation underscores Ghana and Lebanon’s collaborative commitment to disrupting international drug trafficking networks through cross-border intelligence-sharing,” the commission added.

Meanwhile the commission did not disclose the identity of the arrested Syrian national or provide further details about the suspected accomplices being pursued in Ghana.