In a landmark operation for Ghana’s fight against illicit drugs, 3.3 tonnes of high-purity cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $350 million, were publicly destroyed today in Cape Coast. The massive consignment, seized in a joint effort by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), marks the largest cocaine bust in the nation’s history.
The destruction followed an order from an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, on June 20, 2025, paving the way for the disposal of the narcotics. Samples have been retained for the ongoing trial of three suspects implicated in the illicit trade.
The colossal haul was initially intercepted on March 4, 2025, when a tipper truck, en route to Accra from Ghana’s Western Region, was impounded at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast, Central Region. The drugs were ingeniously concealed within 143 sacks, hidden beneath heaps of sand, and initially weighed 2,974 kilograms.
Further intelligence-led operations by NIB officers on March 8, 2025, led to a suspect’s residence, where an additional 13 sacks and one bag, totaling 345.07 kilograms, were recovered, bringing the total seizure to approximately 3.3 tonnes.
Laboratory tests conducted by both NACOC and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) confirmed the substance to be high-purity cocaine, with purity levels ranging between 50% and 70%. A presumptive cobalt thiocyanate test was also carried out on June 4, 2025, in the presence of the trial judge, legal counsel for both the state and the defense, and personnel from the NIB and NACOC. This test, involving random samples from three of the 2,970 slabs, unequivocally confirmed the substance as cocaine.
The swift action to destroy the bulk of the seized drugs underscores Ghana’s firm commitment to combating drug trafficking and preventing its territory from being used as a transit point for illegal narcotics.
Three individuals are currently standing trial in connection with the bust: Isaac Quaicoo (39), the tipper truck driver; Kenneth Cobbinah (25), his mate and a tertiary student; and Mawuku Kudufia. They face charges of allegedly importing narcotic drugs without lawful authority and engaging in a prohibited narcotic business. The trial has been adjourned to June 24, 2025.
This historic seizure and destruction operation is a testament to the enhanced capabilities and collaborative efforts of Ghana’s intelligence and anti-narcotics agencies, sending a strong message to drug syndicates operating in the region.
The moment the $350m worth of cocaine intercepted in Ghana was set ablaze at a security zone in Accra.#GraphicOnline pic.twitter.com/2rOaLAvIOP
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) June 20, 2025
Source: http://thepressradio.com
