Several officers of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), including senior officer Eric Nartey Yeboah, also known as “Chairman Dollar,” have been interdicted following a cocaine-related crime at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), as reported by The Herald.
The scandal unfolded after a significant quantity of illegal drugs was arrested at Brussels Airport in Belgium. Reports suggest that the cocaine was smuggled through KIA aboard the Moroccan national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, facilitated by a GACL staff member on March 23, 2024.
Proeger Delgey Bianca, a Dutch national, was apprehended at Brussels Airport with 8.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, allegedly transported through KIA on the mentioned date.
The Narcotic Control Commission (NACOC) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drug smuggling and subsequent arrest. Belgian authorities have sought clarification from their Ghanaian counterparts regarding the matter.
Eric Nartey Yeboah, recently appointed as Cargo Security Manager, is implicated in the scandal. He was reportedly present at KIA during the time of the drug movement.
His suspicious behavior, including loitering around the airport at 3 am on the day the drugs were believed to have departed Accra for Brussels, drew attention. NACOC has requested the release of Aviation Security Personnel who were on duty or present at the Central Screening area on the day preceding the interception of Bianca and her cocaine luggage, as part of the investigation.
To address the security breaches and criminal implications of the incident, the GACL Board has approved the management’s decision to conduct a thorough investigation.
A committee has been established within the management of KIA to probe into the matter and submit a report by the end of April. Yeboah has a history of misconduct, allegedly altering academic results to contest for a Student Representative Council (SRC) position at Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, leading to his dismissal from the school.
He is also a prominent figure within the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Madina Abokobi Constituency and holds the position of 2nd Vice Chairman at the Greater Accra Regional level.
Additionally, reports have surfaced regarding two suspicious aircraft spotted at the Airforce Base in Accra, one of which was reportedly linked to Yeboah’s jurisdiction. The aircraft, traced to Saint Vincent de Grenadine, had been reported missing, raising further concerns about illicit activities within Ghana’s aviation sector.
The ‘St Vincent Times’, a popular news portal in the South American Island, on December 25, reported the development as follows:
“The aircraft departed from Canouan on Friday 22nd December 2023 at 2:27 p.m. for a sightseeing expedition. However, just 7 minutes into the flight, it disappeared from radar.”
According to reliable sources, the N337LR aircraft was found to have a flight crew consisting of two individuals and one passenger, contrary to prior information indicating three passengers and one pilot. The St Vincent Times, while unable to disclose specific identities, confirmed that at least two individuals aboard were of Mexican nationality.
Authorities were aware of the identity of the flight crew and the sole passenger, contrary to previous claims, suggesting that the disappearance of N337LR was not a random event.
The aircraft was not detected by radar in neighboring islands, leading to concerns that its transponder may have been deactivated while in flight. The N337LR lacks ACARS, resulting in the loss of its position to air traffic control (ATC) when its transponder is not turned on.
ACARS, the Aircraft Communications, Addressing, and Reporting System, facilitates the exchange of automated messages between the aircraft and other entities such as the airline company and manufacturer.
The aircraft had fuel for over 4 hours, leading to questions about its intended destination. The flight plan was deemed illogical, as an aircraft of that particular model would not require a four-hour fuel supply for sightseeing purposes.
It is believed that N337LR may have landed on a private airstrip in South America, potentially in Venezuela, as it is located just one hour away from the Grenadines. The DEA has been monitoring N337LR for a considerable period of time, as Gulf-stream aircraft are increasingly used for the illicit transportation of cocaine from South America.
These aircraft have the capacity to transport 14 or more passengers across a distance of around 4,000 miles, making them well-suited for smuggling purposes. The missing plane is presently available for purchase on AVBUYER, indicating that it has changed hands several times.