- NIB intercepted 3.3 tones of cocaine worth $350 million
- Driver Isaac Quaicoo and mate Kenneth Cobbinah are in custody
- NIB is chasing additional suspects in the trafficking network
In a remarkable operation, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has intercepted a staggering 3,319.66 kilograms (3.3 tonnes) of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of around $350 million.
The enormous drug haul was concealed within sacks and bags, cleverly hidden in sand piles inside a tipper truck to avoid detection.
Thanks to the vigilance of NIB operatives, the illicit shipment was discovered, marking a major victory in the nation’s ongoing battle against narcotics.
The tipper truck was intercepted at Pedu Junction, located in Cape Coast, Central Region, while it was en route to Accra.
This seizure of more than 3,300 kilograms of cocaine ranks among the largest in the country’s history.
The truck’s driver, 39-year-old Isaac Quaicoo, and his mate, 25-year-old Kenneth Cobbinah, a university student, are currently in custody, assisting NIB investigators.
Upon unloading the sand, authorities uncovered 143 sacks clearly marked with distinct identifiers, weighing a total of 2,974 kilograms. Preliminary testing by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the substance to be cocaine.
Further intelligence-led investigations led NIB officers to the residence of a suspect, where a subsequent search on March 8, 2025, uncovered an additional 13 sacks and one bag of suspected cocaine, totaling 345.07 kilograms.
Laboratory analysis by NACOC and the Ghana Standards Authority confirmed that the seized substances were high-purity cocaine, with purity levels ranging from 50% to 70%, according to NIB sources who spoke with the Daily Graphic.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in court again on April 2, 2025.
Meanwhile, the NIB has identified additional accomplices who remain at large, and efforts are underway to apprehend them and ensure all those involved are brought to justice.
Investigators have named Charles Hagan as the individual who contracted the truck driver and his mate to transport the drugs.
A follow-up search at the home of Francis Awortwi, a close associate of Hagan, also known as “Panya,” who allegedly arranged for the tipper truck to transport the drugs to Accra, led to further discoveries of suspected cocaine.
An NIB source stated that this operation demonstrates the bureau’s growing effectiveness in combating narcotics trafficking and underscores the crucial role of inter-agency cooperation in dismantling organized crime networks.
In June of the previous year, two British citizens were arrested for attempting to smuggle $6.48 million (£5 million) worth of cocaine from Ghana to London. The 166 kilograms of cocaine seized at Kotoka International Airport were hidden in six suitcases, with the suspects preparing to board a British Airways flight to London Gatwick Airport.
In 2022, security agencies recorded a significant increase in drug seizures, with a total of 59.9 kilograms of illicit drugs being confiscated, marking a record year for drug-related operations in the country.
