Detailed Breakdown of the arrest of Jessica Hartog over cocaine saga

Here is a simple breakdown of the story:

Who is involved?

• Jessica Hartog – She is known as an East Legon big woman and the CEO of Euro Spa, a popular spa and beauty salon near Shiashie in East Legon, Accra. This is the same woman who once said she started her business with just GH₵5.
• She was arrested together with 3 other Ghanaians.

The 4 people arrested and charged are:

1. Desmond Koranteng Curiel, also called Paul Kweku Yeboah or “Biggs” – He is 34, a business broker, and reportedly Jessica’s husband. He is said to be the main suspect.
2. Musah Attah, also called “Kromo”
3. Kweku Otchere, also called Kwaku Okyere
4. Jessica Hartog

There is a 5th person who is on the run: a Dutch man called Jos Leijdekkers, also called “Bolle Jos”. He is a fugitive drug lord wanted in Europe.

What happened?

On September 10, 2026, French Customs at the Port of Dunkirk in northern France seized a container that came from Ghana. Inside the container, they found 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden under plastic waste. 6804

The container was declared as carrying plastic waste, but the cocaine was hidden inside it. Part of the drugs was reportedly supposed to go to Antwerp in Belgium. 6804

The street value of the cocaine is about €225 million, which is about $261 million.

How were they arrested in Ghana?

After France seized the drugs, Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) started arresting people in Ghana who they believe helped move the drugs.

NACOC says the 4 suspects allegedly worked for and helped the Dutch fugitive Bolle Jos to move the drugs through Ghana using cargo. NACOC said they had been tracking these people for 1 to 2 years before arresting them. 6804

What are the charges and what happened in court?

They were taken to the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

They are facing 2 charges:

1. Conspiracy to commit a crime – that is, planning together to export narcotic drugs without a license from the Minister of Health.
2. Exportation of narcotic drugs 6804

They all pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers asked for bail, but the court refused. The court remanded them – meaning they will stay in custody for 4 weeks. They are to come back to court on October 13, 2026. 6804

NACOC says investigations are still going on, and more people could be arrested.