The Ghana Navy has intercepted two wooden boats carrying 117 sacks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, weighing approximately 4.7 tonnes and valued at more than 1 million United States dollars, at the Ada Estuary, according to the Ghana Navy in a post late Thursday.
The Navy said the operation was carried out by its Riverine Command in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and National Security.
The consignment comprised dried leaves packaged in more than 80 parcels per sack. Preliminary intelligence gathered by the security agencies suggests the substances were being transported out of the country.
The Navy said the suspects abandoned the two boats and their cargo after spotting the pursuing naval personnel and fled the scene.
Speaking to the media, Director of Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters, Captain Festus Osei Brobbey, said the Navy had deployed a riverine detachment to strengthen security along the Volta Lake and surrounding communities.
He explained that the deployment was aimed at preventing illicit activities and improving security along the waterway.
Naval Captain Brobbey stressed the importance of sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering in identifying and disrupting criminal activities. He also commended community members for providing timely information to security agencies to support their operations.
The Ada East District Chief Executive and Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), Kenneth Kofi Kabu Kanor, cautioned residents against allowing the Volta Lake to be used as a transit route for illicit drugs and urged them to report suspicious movements and activities to the appropriate security authorities.
The interception highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to tighten surveillance along the country’s waterways and prevent their use for the transportation of illicit substances. Enditem
