Syrian national arrested at Beirut Airport with 40kg of suspected cocaine from Ghana

Story by: Regina Bless

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

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest in a press release dated November 1, 2026, stating that the suspect was apprehended on Saturday, October 31, following a coordinated anti-drug trafficking operation involving Ghanaian and Lebanese law enforcement authorities.

According to NACOC, the arrest was the result of a controlled delivery exercise aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the suspected international drug trafficking operation.

The Commission disclosed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to arrest the suspect’s alleged accomplices in Ghana.

NACOC explained that the joint operation was designed to identify targets at both ends of the supply chain while gathering intelligence to dismantle the wider transnational criminal network behind the shipment.

The Commission further highlighted the importance of international cooperation and intelligence-sharing between Ghana and Lebanon in tackling drug trafficking networks.

The operation, NACOC said, demonstrates the commitment of both countries to strengthening cross-border security cooperation and disrupting international narcotics trafficking.

The statement was signed by PNCO Francis Opoku Amoah, Acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC.