In spite of the claims by President John Evans Atta Mills and his government that they have brought drug smuggling to an end, ten Ghanaians have been arrested on just one flight from Accra to New York!

They were on board an Accra-New York flight of Delta Airlines and were arrested last month at JFK Airport, USA, for drug-related offences. Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) sources said they are assisting the US security authorities in their investigations.

The Executive Secretary of NACOB, Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, who spoke to the Times newspaper in Accra on Tuesday, on the arrest, blamed officials of Debill Security Services, a US security agency that provides in-flight security, for allegedly preventing NACOB officials at the Kotoka International Airport from conducting a search on the passengers as well as their luggage. What he fails to say is that the drugs passed through Ghana's airport to JFK.

The latest revelations would come as a major shock to many Ghanaians, who have come to believe that the claims by President Atta Mills and his government that they have brought drug smuggling to an end in Ghana, was true.

Most worryingly, Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong said that for some time now, security personnel of airlines had not allowed NACOB operatives at the KIA to search passengers who boarded their flights. Though NACOB claims that it had sought to know the reason, he said this had not been forthcoming. He said unlike the other airlines whose crew complied with rules to profile their passengers and search their luggage, Delta Airlines in particular did not. He said he had complained to authorities of the Delta Airlines and Debill Security Services which compelled an official of Debill Service to come to Ghana to apologise to NACOB. NACOB had since resumed searches on the passengers and luggage. Mr. Akrasi Sarpoong explained that the presence of NACOB and other security operatives at the KIA was not to intimidate passengers, but to discharge their duties as prescribed by law. He said the spate of drug trade across the globe was disturbing with some cartels and couriers redirecting their focus to West Africa. He said it required a holistic approach to deal with the situation. Mr. Akrasi Sarpong claimed that Ghana had chalked success in many spheres and it would not allow its image to be dented through the actions or inactions of a few people.

He urged the public to report people they suspected of dealing in narcotics to the NACOB or the security agencies. Meanwhile Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong and the NACOB had taken delivery of two sniffing dogs from India to enhance its security operations at KIA. The donation forms part of India's support to Ghana's quest to fight the drug menace, particularly at the airport. He said two officials of NACOB had been to India for training in the handling of the dogs while four other security officers were due to undergo a similar training in Germany.

Meanwhile officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) have arrested a renowned music producer Mr Sarfo Katanka, over possession of drugs suspected to be cocaine. It is reported that Mr Safo Katanka had swallowed 70 pellets of cocaine. He was arrested on Tuesday April 27, at the Kotoka International Airport after searches revealed he was carrying the banned substance. Mr Akrasi Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of NACOB confirmed the arrest to Citi News. He said noted that the suspect has been on their profile list for some time now. He added that he is confident that Mr Katanka would be processed for court by the close of the day. Mr Safo Katanka was on his way to catch a UK-bound British Airways Flight when drug enforcement officials detained him.