Four men have been jailed for smuggling $5.6 million worth of cannabis hidden in bags of garri powder from Ghana to the UK.
A shipping container containing a large quantity of drugs arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on December 19, 2019.
Information obtained by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Ghana Narcotics Control Commission suggested it may contain illegal drugs, and border control authorities launched a search.
Officers discovered 2,335 boxes of cannabis (weighing 1.5 tonnes) hidden inside white hessian bags containing garri powder.
Four men have been arrested for smuggling $5.6 million worth of cannabis from Ghana to the UK. NCA/SWNS
The street value of the cannabis is estimated to be approximately $5.6 million.
NCA officials removed the cannabis from the bag, replaced it with a dummy package and allowed the container to cross the border.
They then decoyed four people, Daniel Yeboah (54 years old), Christophen Baidu (48 years old), Kwaku Bonsu (52 years old) and Edward Adjei (48 years old), who implicated them in the smuggling operation. An investigation was conducted.
On the morning of January 13, 2020, the NCA tracked the former drug container by truck to an industrial yard in north London, where it was met by Yeboah, who signed the delivery note using a forged signature.
The drugs were hidden in bags of garri powder. NCA/SWNS
Officers then observed Bons taking pictures of the container and patrolling the yard in his car, and then watched Ajay drop off Baidu at the yard.
Shortly after the container was opened, the men apparently realized the drugs were missing and fled the yard in separate cars.
However, they were tracked down by NCA officials and arrested later that day. Yeboah and Ajayi were in Homerton, Baidu in Stratford, and Bonsu in Edmonton.
The drugs arrived in Essex in a shipping container on December 19, 2019. NCA/SWNS
A search of Baidoo's address revealed a 10-ton hydraulic press commonly used to compress drugs.
Meanwhile, analysis of Baidoo's mobile phone revealed his conspiracy to accept drug deliveries at the rented yard under a false name.
Footage downloaded from the dashcam of Ajay's Toyota revealed that he was on the phone with Baidoo and Yeboah, during which he said: It's all a little dangerous. ”
On another phone call, Yeboah was heard telling Ajay, “I don't think there was any food (drugs) in there.'' “There was gully inside. Most of the gully has been removed.'' The people are thieves. ”
Kwaku Bonsu, 52, was one of the men arrested for drug smuggling. NCA/SWNS Daniel Yeboah, 54, used a forged signature to sign delivery notes for drug shipments. NCA/SWNS
Bonsu was implicated in the conspiracy after it was revealed that his bank account had made multiple payments to shipping companies for containers to be delivered to industrial yards in London.
All four were found guilty of importing cannabis following a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court last month.
Yeboah was jailed for five years and Ajay for four years.
A 10-ton hydraulic press for compressing drugs was found at Christophen Baidoo's home. NCA/SWNS defendant Edward Adjei (48) was sentenced to four years in prison. NCA/SWNS
Baidu did not appear at last month's trial, and Bonsu fled the jurisdiction before sentencing.
Both men were sentenced in absentia, with Baidu receiving 10 years in prison and Bonsu receiving seven years.
“They used their international connections to import large quantities of cannabis into the country,” NCA senior investigator Saju Sasikumar said.
“Future supply in the UK would have had a devastating impact on our communities, fueling violence and exploitation through the county border drug trade.
“Today’s results demonstrate the NCA’s commitment to targeting organized criminals operating at the top of the drug supply chain and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
