Four Ghanaians Jailed for Smuggling Cannabis Hidden in Gari Sacks

 In a major win for border enforcement, four men have been sentenced for smuggling £4.3 million worth of cannabis from Ghana into the UK. The National Crime Agency discovered the haul among other sacks of gari-a popular Ghanaian food upon its arrival at Tilbury Docks, South Essex, after it mounted a sting operation that secured the convictions.

The men-Daniel Yeboah, Edward Adjei, Kristoffen Baidoo, and Kwaku Employed international contacts to organize the shipment and were further planning onward distribution through UK networks. The cannabis had been hidden in a cargo of gari-a staple made from cassava tubers native to West Africa the hope of evading border checks and commanding a much higher street value for the drugs. Unfortunately for them, intelligence from both the NCA and Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission got in the way of their completing the plan. Border officers discovered 1.5 tonnes of cannabis concealed within white hessian sacks. Officers replaced the original contents with sham packages to track the shipment, which led to the arrest of Yeboah and Adjei in Homerton; Baidoo and Bonsu-who attempted to flee sentencing-were arrested later.

The gang received sentences totaling 26 years when they appeared at Southwark Crown Court. Yeboah received five years, Adjei received four, Baidoo received ten, and Bonsu seven; the latter two in absentia, having fled before trial. Efforts are underway to bring them back into custody.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Saju Sasikumar said: "The operation had a positive impact on the safety of communities. The onward supply would have fuelled violence and exploitation." The case sends a strong warning of the determination of the National Crime Agency to disrupt organized drug networks and protect communities from the very real harms caused by drug-related crime.