Ten Ghanaians on board an Accra New York flight of Delta Airlines were arrested last month at JFK Airport, New York, for drug related offenses.

Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) sources say these men are assisting the US security authorities in their investigations.

The Executive Secretary of NACOB, Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, who spoke to the Times on the arrests in Accra Tuesday, 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.

Mr Akrasi-Sarpong noted that for some time now, security personnel of airlines have refused to allow NACOB operatives at the KIA to search passengers who boarded their flights.

Though NACOB had sought to know the reason, he claimed, this has yielded no positive result.

He said unlike the other airlines whose crew comply with rules to profile their passengers and search their luggage, Delta Airlines in particular does not.

He said he has complained to authorities of Delta Airlines and Debill Security Services which compelled an official of Debill Service to come to Ghana to apologize to NACOB.

NACOB has since resumed searches on the passengers and luggage.

Mr Akrasi-Sarpong explained that the presence of the NACOB and other security operatives at the KIA is not to intimidate passengers but to discharge their duties as prescribed by law.

He said the spate of drug trade across the globe is disturbing with some cartels and couriers redirecting their focus to West Africa.

The NACOB Executive Secretary said it requires a holistic approach to deal with the situation.

He added that Ghana has chalked success in many spheres and it would not allow its image to be dented through the actions or inactions of a few people.

Mr Sarpong urged the public to report people they suspect to be dealing in narcotics to the NACOB or other security agencies.

Meanwhile, Mr Akrasi-Sarpong said the NACOB has 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 added that two officials of NACOB have been to India for training in the handling of the dogs while four other security officers are due to undergo a similar training in Germany.