Accra: A South African national, Andile Mitchel Mdluli, has been remanded by an Accra High Court following charges of importing and possessing narcotic drugs without the necessary legal authorization. Mdluli, a private concierge, is accused of possessing 16.36 kg of a plant-like substance suspected to be cannabis.
According to Ghana News Agency, the charges against Mdluli include importation of narcotic drugs without a license issued by the Health Minister and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs. The court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame E. Yenzuh, has deferred Mdluli's plea as investigations continue. The accused, represented by her counsel Beyeeman Ofori-Atta Akyea, is remanded until May 15, 2025. Alberta Boakye Ansah, an Assistant State Attorney, represented the state.
The court received details from authorized officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) stationed at Kotoka International Airport. Mdluli, aged 25, arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, via Dubai on an Emirates Airlines flight. She was traveling on a South African passport valid from October 2019 to October 2029. Intelligence from international partners indicated a drug trafficking syndicate operating from Bangkok was recruiting couriers to traffic drugs through Dubai into Ghana. This information was relayed to officers at the airport's Terminal 3.
On April 25, 2025, credible intelligence suggested a female, later identified as Mdluli, was on an Emirates flight to Ghana with a suitcase potentially containing narcotics. Upon her arrival around 11:50 AM, officers intercepted Mdluli on suspicion of drug trafficking. She possessed hand luggage and a black checked-in suitcase tagged with her name. During questioning, she claimed responsibility for packing the suitcases and provided a code to unlock the suitcase, which failed. With her consent, the suitcase was forcibly opened, revealing two towels and fifteen black vacuum-sealed bags containing a plant-like substance suspected to be narcotics.
No incriminating items were found in her hand luggage. A field test confirmed the presence of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis, weighing approximately 16.36 kg. Mdluli was arrested for drug importation without a license and unlawful possession of narcotics. Despite volunteering to assist in apprehending accomplices in Ghana, the operation was unsuccessful. Mdluli was taken to NACOC Headquarters for further investigation. The drug exhibit will be sent to the Ghana Standards Authority for examination. Investigations are ongoing.