Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obubaa Mantey, has issued a strong warning to individuals involved in the illegal drug trade, describing their actions as deeply unfair to the country and its future.
He reaffirmed that Ghana’s security agencies will not relent in their efforts to tackle the menace of narcotic drugs, adding that there will be no safe haven for traffickers and users.
According to the NACOC boss, the Commission will from July launch a series of targeted operations across the country aimed at apprehending drug users and dismantling networks involved in the trafficking and distribution of illicit substances.
“And my simple message to those who are involved in this illicit drug business is that it is not fair to the country. We will not stand idly by and allow them to bring these illicit drugs to destroy our future leaders,” Brigadier General Mantey stated.
His remarks were made during a high-profile drug destruction exercise jointly conducted by NACOC and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) at the Bundase Military Training Camp on Friday, June 20, 2025.
The event marked the incineration of a wide range of confiscated narcotic drugs, following an order from the Accra High Court permitting their destruction after samples were secured for ongoing prosecutions.
The operation, held ahead of this year’s World Drug Day scheduled for Thursday, June 26, was part of Ghana’s broader effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of investing in prevention through justice, education, healthcare, and alternative livelihoods.
During the exercise, a total of 16,826.91 kilograms of narcotics were incinerated under strict supervision by other agencies and the media.
This included substantial quantities of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), ketamine, and cathinone. Also destroyed were several tonnes of unregistered pharmaceutical products such as codeine, diclofenac, and Hyergra.
NACOC accounted for 13,513.91 kilograms of the destroyed substances, while NIB contributed 3,313 kilograms—mostly high-grade cocaine intercepted in the Central Region, with an estimated street value of $350 million.
Before the destruction, officials from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other security stakeholders, conducted on-site verification tests. Using cobalt thiocyanate reagent and hydrochloric acid, GSA personnel confirmed the authenticity of the cocaine, which turned blue during testing. Samples of the cannabis also tested positive.
These scientific assessments, conducted publicly, were aimed at enhancing transparency and demonstrating the legitimacy of the Commission’s actions.
Brigadier General Mantey stressed that transparency was key in maintaining public trust and showcasing the Commission’s adherence to due process and the rule of law.
“We invited you here so that the whole country, and indeed the world, would know what we’ve been doing. It is to demonstrate our commitment to fighting the drug menace through legal and transparent means,” he told journalists and other security agencies present.
He also disclosed that NACOC intends to go further by documenting and exposing individuals behind drug trafficking networks through public reports.
According to him, naming and shaming perpetrators is a critical strategy to deter others from joining the illicit trade.
He called on the media and the general public to support this campaign and provide timely information to aid enforcement.
The Deputy Director-General of NACOC, who also addressed the press, confirmed that the $350 million cocaine consignment destroyed was part of a joint operation between NACOC and the NIB in the Central Region.
He stated that the court had granted authorization for the destruction, and what the public witnessed during the exercise was the incineration of those very seized substances.
As part of efforts to heighten awareness, this year’s World Drug Day celebration will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre and is expected to be graced by the Vice President of the Republic.
The event will highlight Ghana’s ongoing initiatives in the fight against drugs and further amplify calls for international cooperation in addressing the global drug challenge.
