A 34-year-old Ghanaian beautician, Jessica Hartog, has been remanded alongside three other suspects over an alleged attempt to export nearly four tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France.
Hartog and the three other accused persons appeared before the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, where they pleaded not guilty to charges relating to conspiracy to export narcotic drugs and the alleged exportation of narcotics without the required licence.
The other accused are Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also known as Paul Kweku Yeboah or “Biggs”; Musah Attah, alias “Kromo”; and Kweku Otchere. A fifth suspect, Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos”, is reportedly at large.
The case followed the seizure by French customs authorities of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Dunkirk on September 10. The drugs were concealed inside a container carrying plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. French authorities estimated the consignment’s street value at about €225 million, equivalent to roughly US$260 million.
According to the prosecution’s account presented in court, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) began investigations after receiving information about the seizure.
NACOC officers arrested Curiel and Hartog at Ashaley Botwe on September 12, while Kweku Okyere/Otchere was arrested at his residence in East Legon. Musah Attah was subsequently arrested at NACOC headquarters on September 14.
A search conducted following the arrests reportedly resulted in the recovery of three firearms, ammunition, four luxury vehicles, passports and various sums of money, according to the prosecution.
Hartog, who was described in court as Curiel’s fiancée, reportedly told investigators that she was unaware of the nature and details of his business activities.
The prosecution also said investigations were continuing to establish the roles of the suspects and identify other people who may have been connected to the alleged shipment.
The four accused were remanded in custody and are expected to return to court on October 13, 2026. Their arraignment and remand do not amount to a finding of guilt, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
The case is part of a wider investigation involving the alleged international trafficking network of Leijdekkers. NACOC previously announced the arrest of three suspects whom it said were allegedly representing or facilitating the activities of the Dutch fugitive in Ghana.