BALTIMORE, MD – Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker, 41, of Columbia, Maryland, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 30 months for a brazen scheme to illegally export firearms to Ghana. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher handed down the sentence today, along with a two-year supervised release following his incarceration. The case highlights a growing concern about the illicit flow of American weaponry overseas.
Federal investigators revealed that Coker had been amassing firearms since 2017, purchasing at least 81 from three Maryland Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). He cleverly exploited a loophole by obtaining Regulated Firearms Collector status in 2019, removing restrictions on the quantity of guns he could buy in a 30-day period. Simultaneously, Coker was shipping vehicles to Ghana, laying the groundwork for his smuggling operation. The scheme was far from subtle, but took years to unravel.
The feds began to close in during May 2021, surveilling Coker as he picked up newly purchased firearms. Agents watched as he transported them to a business near the Port of Baltimore, a known hub for international shipping. A vehicle linked to Coker was observed leaving the facility on May 27, 2021. Just two days later, Coker himself was intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, attempting to board a flight to Ghana. A search of his luggage revealed foam cutouts designed to conceal firearms within gun cases – a clear indication of intent.
The real haul, however, was hidden in plain sight. Agents discovered a shipping container destined for Tema, Ghana, containing a 2018 Toyota Corolla registered to Coker. While the manifest listed only the vehicle, a thorough search revealed a grey suitcase concealed within the trunk, its lining packed with five 9mm handguns previously purchased by Coker. A second container, loaded onto the same vessel, was intercepted at sea and returned to Baltimore. This search yielded another six 9mm handguns and sixteen 9mm pistol magazines hidden within other vehicles linked to Coker.
Coker ultimately admitted that all the firearms and magazines were listed on the U.S. Department of Commerce Control List, meaning he needed a license – which he never obtained – or written approval to legally export them. The case was a multi-agency effort, involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the agencies’ collaborative work and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham for successfully prosecuting the case.
The sentencing of Coker sends a message that illegally exporting firearms carries serious consequences. While the full scope of Coker’s operation remains unclear, authorities are undoubtedly investigating whether he was part of a larger network funneling weapons to potentially dangerous actors in Ghana. The case underscores the constant battle to keep illegal firearms from crossing borders and falling into the wrong hands, a fight that continues to escalate in a world increasingly vulnerable to transnational crime.
Related Federal Cases
- John Doe, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Baltimore MD, 2024 · Delaware
- Harold Rinko, Syria Export Scheme, PA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Warren Lee McDaniel, Illegal Firearm Possession, West Virginia 2024 · Virginia
- Jason Anderson, Illegal Firearm Possession, IN 2023 · Illinois
- Dustin Lee Watson, Illegal Firearm Possession, WV 2017 · Virginia
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