‘Some people within the system’ involved in meth shipment scandal – Muntaka

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has disclosed that preliminary investigations into the methamphetamine shipment from Ghana intercepted in Australia have implicated a number of government officials suspected of facilitating the concealment of the illicit drugs.

According to him, investigators suspect that certain officials may have facilitated the concealment and movement of the illicit drugs by exploiting weaknesses within the country’s security systems.

Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Assurance, the Interior Minister said investigations are ongoing, with several officials being questioned as authorities seek to establish the full extent of the alleged internal collusion.

“Even as at yesterday we were still interrogating a lot of government officials. It is not everything I can put out at this stage because we are still investigating and interrogating people. There are a lot of things that are not adding up. You could see that there is some involvement of some people within the system,” he said.

Muntaka explained that while technology and security equipment are important in detecting and preventing illicit activities at the country’s borders, their effectiveness depends largely on the integrity of personnel operating them.

“Even if you put all these gadgets, remember it is going to be operated by human beings. So if the wrong persons are sitting there, you can bring all the gadgets of this world; it will not be effective,” he added.

He said the government has begun reviewing security arrangements at entry and exit points, including changes to personnel deployment and operational procedures, as part of efforts to strengthen border protection.

“We have changed our modus operandi and the way we place personnel. All of this is to make sure we protect our borders,” he stated.

The Minister’s comments follow the interception in Australia of about 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal shipment from Ghana, with the consignment estimated to be worth A$296 million.

The seizure has triggered investigations into possible breaches within Ghana’s border security systems and allegations of internal facilitation.