Fresh details have emerged about a couple among four Ghanaians facing charges in connection with a major narcotics investigation involving a shipment valued at approximately €225 million.
The couple, Desmond Koranteng Curiel and Jessica Hartog, are among four accused persons who were arraigned before the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The other accused persons are Musah Attah, also known as “Kromo”, and Kweku Otchere. A fifth person, Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos”, has been named in connection with the case and is reportedly at large.
The four accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically the alleged exportation of narcotic drugs without the required licence, as well as the alleged exportation of narcotic drugs.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Curiel, who is also known by the aliases Paul Kweku Yeboah and “Biggs”, has been identified in court reports as a 34-year-old business broker. Hartog, 34, has been described as a beautician and Curiel’s fiancée. Musah Attah is reportedly a farmer, while Kweku Otchere is a businessman.
The case follows the seizure by French customs authorities of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026. The consignment had reportedly arrived from Ghana and was estimated to have a street value of about €225 million.
Following the seizure, Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) announced that it had arrested suspects in Ghana as part of investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shipment.
NACOC has said the suspects are being investigated over their alleged links to Leijdekkers and the activities of his network in Ghana. The Commission has also indicated that it is working with French authorities to obtain further information that could assist Ghanaian investigators.
The involvement of Hartog has attracted particular attention because of her relationship with Curiel. However, the specific allegations against her and the extent of her alleged involvement are matters for the ongoing legal proceedings to establish.
The four accused persons were remanded in custody after their lawyers sought bail. They are scheduled to return to court on October 13, 2026.
NACOC has said investigations are continuing, while the accused persons remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless a competent court determines otherwise.
The case is expected to provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the international investigation and the individual roles, if any, of those facing charges.
Source: Thepressradio.com
