Four Ghanaians have been remanded in custody by an Accra High Court over an alleged plot to export nearly four tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France.
Jessica Hartog, a 34-year-old beautician, was charged alongside Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also known as Paul Kweku Yeboah or “Biggs”; Musah Atta, alias “Kromo”; and Kweku Okyere. They appeared before the court on 16 September 2026 and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence. The court refused bail and remanded them until 13 October 2026.
The case follows the seizure of about 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs at the port of Dunkirk. Authorities say the drugs were hidden in a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana and had an estimated street value of about €225 million, or roughly US$260 million. Part of the consignment was reportedly bound for Antwerp, Belgium. Reuters reported the Dunkirk seizure on 10 September 2026.
Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) later arrested suspects in Accra. Court reports say Curiel and Hartog were detained at Ashale Botwe, while Okyere was arrested at his home in East Legon. Hartog has been described in some reports as Curiel’s fiancée or wife. In her caution statement she reportedly said she did not know the nature of his business.
Prosecutors allege the accused helped Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, known as Bolle Jos, who remains at large and has been named as a fifth accused. Leijdekkers is wanted in Europe over large-scale cocaine trafficking. His lawyers have denied he was involved in the Dunkirk shipment.
NACOC says investigations are continuing and that other people linked to the alleged export may still be identified. The four remanded suspects have not been convicted.
