The Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, Lamtiig Apanga, has urged authorities investigating the recent cocaine trafficking case to focus on the alleged masterminds and financiers behind the operation.
He said concentrating mainly on couriers and other individuals at the lower levels of the trafficking chain would not be enough to dismantle the network, as such persons could easily be replaced.
Speaking during a panel discussion today, Tuesday, September 22, Mr Apanga said investigators must work to identify those who finance, organise and coordinate the movement of narcotics across borders.
He argued that couriers are only part of a much larger structure and that identifying the people controlling the trade would provide investigators with a better opportunity to disrupt the entire supply chain.
“We should not be so concerned about the individuals who are involved in just the trafficking, but we should be involved in finding out who the kingpins behind it are,” he said.
Mr Apanga explained that traffickers could continue their operations by recruiting new couriers whenever existing ones were arrested.
He therefore believes the current investigation should go beyond the immediate suspects and trace the sources of funding and the people coordinating the shipment.
His comments follow the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French authorities at the Port of Dunkirk. The consignment, reportedly originating from Ghana, was concealed in a container carrying plastic waste.
About 10 officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Customs are reportedly under investigation in connection with the shipment.
However, Mr Apanga cautioned that investigations involving such officials should not mark the end of the probe.
“For me, they are just on the periphery. The centre of it is the kingpins,” he said.
