4.8 tonnes of marijuana with over US$1m street value heading towards Nigeria seized by Ghana Navy

Two large wooden boats carrying 117 sacks of substances suspected to be marijuana, with an estimated street value of more than US$1 million, have been intercepted by the Ghana Navy in an intelligence-led operation on the Volta Lake estuary at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.

The operation, conducted by the Riverine Command of the Ghana Navy at about 1 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, prevented the suspected consignment from being transported outside the country via the sea.

The boats were discovered concealed along the banks of the river near the estuary.

They were in the preparatory stages of transporting the narcotics to Nigeria. They fled the scene and abandoned the boat when they saw Navy personnel approaching.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Director of Naval Operations at the Naval Headquarters, Naval Captain Festus Osei-Brobbey, said the suspects abandoned the boats and fled upon sighting the naval patrol team.

He said the boats were subsequently moved to Ada Foah, where they were searched at about 5 a.m. in the presence of officials of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).

The search revealed 117 sacks containing approximately 80 packs of suspected marijuana each, bringing the estimated total weight of the consignment to 4.8 tons.

Naval Captain Osei-Brobbey said the substances have been handed over to NACOC to conduct the necessary laboratory examination.

He described the seizure as potentially the biggest marijuana interception by the Navy in the recent past, recalling an earlier operation in July during which about 60 sacks of suspected marijuana were intercepted.

He said the operation formed part of the Navy's commitment to combating illicit activities within Ghana's maritime domain and supporting President John Dramani Mahama's zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking.

He indicated that the operation also reinforced national efforts to strengthen border security, improve inter-agency cooperation and prevent the use of Ghana as a transit point for illicit substances.

Naval Captain Osei-Brobbey warned financiers, sponsors, organisers and other individuals involved in drug trafficking that the Navy would intensify surveillance and monitoring operations to identify, track and disrupt criminal networks operating within the country's maritime corridors.

He said the Navy would continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to protect Ghana's territorial waters against drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

He also appealed to the public to provide credible and actionable information to support the security agencies in their operations. He also appealed to the public to provide credible and actionable information to support the security agencies in their operations.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ada East, Kenneth Kofi Kabu Kanor, who also addressed the press conference, expressed concern about the growing challenge of drug abuse and its impact on families and communities.

He said the geographical location of Ada, with its river and sea connections, made it important for authorities to strengthen surveillance and prevent the waterways from being exploited for illegal activities.

Mr Kanor called for stronger collaboration between the district assembly, security agencies and the central government to tackle drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

He further stressed the need to protect the area's waterways and promote responsible use of its natural resources, saying the fight against illicit trade required collective commitment.