Three on trial as Ghana destroys $350m cocaine haul, kingpins still on the run

Three people are standing trial over one of Ghana's biggest cocaine seizures, while the alleged kingpins remain on the run despite the destruction of the drugs, the Interior Minister, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has told Parliament.

Appearing before Parliament's Assurances Committee on Tuesday, Mr Muntaka said the cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $350m, had been destroyed after a court granted the necessary order.

He said the authorities complied with all legal requirements before disposing of the drugs and had provided video evidence of the destruction.

Under Ghanaian law, narcotic substances cannot be destroyed without the approval of a court.

Mr Muntaka said three suspects, including the driver and the driver's mate of the vehicle used to transport the drugs, were being prosecuted. They have been granted bail after surrendering their passports to the court.

"Usually, they are made to provide sureties, and their passports are seized before the court grants them bail once the case proceeds," he said.

However, the minister acknowledged that investigators were yet to arrest those believed to have organised the shipment.

"Obviously, when it happens like that, the main kingpins will be far away, but we are pursuing them, and we use all measures, especially with Interpol," he told lawmakers.

Mr Muntaka said the prosecution was continuing, although the latest hearing was disrupted after severe flooding in Accra on June 29 . A new court date is yet to be fixed.

The case is regarded as one of the largest publicly disclosed cocaine trafficking prosecutions in Ghana in recent years, with authorities insisting investigations will continue until those behind the operation are brought to justice.