Security operatives in Tema have successfully thwarted an attempt to export illicit drugs out of the country after seizing 866 parcels of a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
The drugs, which carry a significant street value, were cleverly concealed inside sacks of gari and konkonte—common local food staples—in an effort to evade detection by port authorities.
The high-stakes seizure occurred on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at approximately 8 PM, following an intelligence-led operation specifically targeting drug syndicates operating within the Tema Port enclave.
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According to sources close to the operation, police officers swooped down on a warehouse located within the port’s industrial area. At the time of the raid, the suspects were actively supervising a group of laborers loading the disguised sacks into a 40-foot shipping container destined for export.
The operation was a result of weeks of surveillance, as authorities had received credible intelligence regarding a large shipment of narcotics preparing to leave Ghanaian shores.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that three suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations.
The detained individuals include a Dutch national, believed to be the mastermind behind the logistics of the export, and two Ghanaians, who are suspected to be local facilitators responsible for procuring the food items used as cover and organizing the loading crew.
All three individuals, along with the truck used for transportation and the intercepted parcels, remain in police custody as the investigation deepens.
The Ghana Police Service has lauded the vigilance of the officers involved in the cocaine bust, emphasizing that this seizure highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-sharing in combating transnational organized crime.
Investigators are currently working to determine the exact purity of the substance and the intended destination of the container. Authorities are also exploring whether the syndicate has any other affiliates within the country.