A 22-year-old British national, Browne-Frater Chyna Jada, has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly attempting to export 17.92kg of suspected cannabis, valued at $232,960.
She faces charges of attempted exportation of narcotic drugs, conspiracy to commit a crime, and unlawful possession or control of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Susan Eduful, did not take her plea and indicated that officials of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) were awaiting an analytical report from the Ghana Standards Authority.
The charges and facts were read to Browne-Frater in open court.
Chief Inspector Clemence Takyi, holding brief for the prosecution, opposed the bail application, citing the accused as a flight risk. He also stated that an accomplice, identified only as “Joey,” remains at large.
Defence counsel applied for bail, arguing that Browne-Frater had reliable sureties and would not interfere with investigations. However, the application was denied.
The prosecution informed the court that witnesses in the case are NACOC officers stationed at Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport.
Browne-Frater, born on 27 October 2002, is a British citizen holding a valid United Kingdom passport issued on 15 January 2021 and set to expire on 15 January 2031. She was scheduled to board British Airways flight BA 2066 from Accra to London.
NACOC stated that it had received intelligence from foreign counterparts regarding a drug trafficking syndicate smuggling Thai-grown cannabis into the United Kingdom. Browne-Frater was identified as a person of interest and placed on the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Stop List.
On 18 May 2025, at about 6:40 a.m., GIS officials apprehended her at the airport’s departure hall and handed her over to NACOC officers.
Upon interrogation, Browne-Frater claimed she had checked in one suitcase but was unaware of its contents. Officers traced and offloaded the suitcase from the aircraft. She was then escorted to the NACOC Arrival Office, where the suitcase—bearing a tag in her name—was opened in her presence.
Thirty-two vacuum-sealed slabs of a plant-like substance suspected to be cannabis were retrieved. A field test conducted on the substance tested positive for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in cannabis. The total weight was 17.92kg.
Browne-Frater was arrested and taken to NACOC Headquarters for further investigation.
In her statement, she claimed she had been invited to Ghana by her boyfriend, “Joey,” who packed the suitcase in her absence. She said she was told the suitcase contained “Kpoo Keke” alcoholic beverage, Alomo Bitters, and spices.
Browne-Frater has denied knowledge of the narcotic haul. Her accomplice, “Joey,” remains at large. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.
The seized exhibit was sealed in her presence and will be sent to the Ghana Standards Authority for further analysis.