Ghana is facing renewed concerns over its alleged emergence as an important route for international drug trafficking, following a series of major narcotics seizures involving consignments connected to the country.
The latest alarm follows reports of large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine being intercepted outside Ghana after shipments reportedly passed through the country. One recent seizure in France involved nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden inside a container carrying plastic waste that had departed from Ghana. The shipment was reportedly worth about US$261 million.
There have also been concerns over methamphetamine shipments linked to Ghana. The Minority in Parliament has cited several major international seizures and argued that narcotics connected to Ghana have reached a combined value of more than US$1 billion in less than two years. The Minority is demanding an independent parliamentary investigation into the circumstances surrounding these cases.
The development has raised questions about the effectiveness of security checks at Ghana’s ports and other entry points. NACOC, however, says it is stepping up intelligence-led operations and working with international partners to disrupt organized drug-trafficking networks operating across borders.
The issue has also attracted attention from the security authorities, with calls for stronger cooperation and tighter controls to prevent criminal networks from exploiting Ghana as a transit route. NACOC has stressed that the country must not become a safe haven, transit point or operational base for international drug organizations.
Source: GhanaNsem
