In the ongoing struggle against narcotics trafficking in Ghana, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has intercepted a record-breaking consignment of cocaine weighing 3.3 tonnes on its way to Accra.
The seizure occurred on March 4, 2025, at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast. Acting on intelligence reports, NIB officers stopped a tipper truck loaded with sand traveling from Takoradi in the Western Region to Weija in Accra.
According to 3news reports, the authorities uncovered 143 sacks of cocaine expertly concealed beneath the sand upon inspection.
Field tests conducted by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) quickly confirmed the substance as raw cocaine. The initial haul weighed an astounding 2,974 kilograms, marking one of the largest drug seizures in Ghana’s history.
Further investigations led to a breakthrough on March 8, when NIB officers raided a suspect’s residence. This follow-up operation uncovered an additional 13 sacks and one bag of suspected cocaine, weighing 345.07 kilograms.
Laboratory tests performed by NACOC and the Ghana Standards Authority validated the total consignment’s weight of 3,319.68 kilograms, with a purity range between 50% and 70%.
The cocaine, valued at over $350 million on the street, is suspected to have been smuggled into the country via sea using fishing vessels, a method often employed by drug traffickers.
As per reports, the operation resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Isaac Quaicoe and Kenneth Cobbinah, who have been remanded in police custody, and are expected to reappear in court on April 2, 2025. The NIB has also identified additional suspects believed to be linked to the operation and is actively pursuing them.
Authorities emphasized their commitment to dismantling the networks responsible for this large-scale drug trafficking. The NIB has ramped up efforts to track and arrest all individuals involved, ensuring they face the full force of the law.
