Five Ghanaians arraigned over alleged 320kg methamphetamine shipment to Australia

The illicit substance was reportedly concealed within a consignment of coconut charcoal destined for Australia. Australian authorities seized the narcotic at Port Botany in Sydney after the shipment, declared as bags of coconut charcoal, underwent examination. The prosecution's brief of facts, filed at the Accra High Court, states the methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $208 million, with Australian authorities valuing it at approximately A$296 million.

The accused include Mercy Nelly Nyadzi, a 58-year-old freight forwarder and proprietor of Freight Plus Ghana Ltd.; freight forwarder Collins Yaw Antwi; and Customs officer James Donkor. Two other suspects, James Osei Frimpong, alias 'Bro Yaw', and a man identified only as Frank, are currently at large. The accused face charges including conspiracy to commit crime, exportation of narcotic drugs, abetment of exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence, and possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority for trafficking.

Investigations began after NACOC received intelligence from the Australian Border Force regarding the seizure. The consignment, comprising one 20-foot and one 40-foot container, departed Tema Port around December 20, 2025, aboard the MSC VIGO, bound for Sydney. Shipping documents identified Freight Plus Ghana Ltd. as the shi