The Ghana Navy has intercepted 117 sacks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, weighing approximately 4.7 tonnes and valued at more than US$1 million, in an operation at the Ada Estuary.
The operation, conducted by the Navy’s Riverine Command in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and National Security, targeted two wooden boats transporting the suspected narcotics.
According to the Navy, the consignment comprised dried leaves packaged in more than 80 parcels per sack. Preliminary intelligence suggested that the substances were being transported out of the country.
However, the occupants of the boats reportedly fled after spotting approaching naval personnel, abandoning the vessels and their cargo at the scene.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Navy said the operation formed part of efforts to strengthen security along the Volta Lake and surrounding communities.
Speaking at a media briefing in Ada, the Director of Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters, Naval Captain Festus Osei Brobbey, said the deployment of a riverine detachment was intended to deter illegal activities and enhance security along the waterway.
He emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering and sustained surveillance in combating criminal activities, while commending community members for providing timely information to security agencies.
The Ada East District Chief Executive and Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), Kenneth Kofi Kabu Kanor, also urged residents to prevent the Volta Lake from being exploited as a transit route for illicit drugs.
He encouraged the public to report suspicious activities to the appropriate security agencies and assured the Navy of the Assembly’s support for its operations.
The Ghana Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying maritime and riverine security operations to combat drug trafficking and safeguard the country’s territorial waters and inland waterways.
