The Ghana Navy has seized two wooden boats loaded with 117 sacks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp at the Ada Estuary, with the consignment estimated to weigh about 4.7 tonnes and valued at more than US$1 million.
The operation was conducted by the Navy’s Riverine Command in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission and National Security.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, 5th November 2026, the Navy said the seized consignment consisted of 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 Ghana.
The suspects reportedly abandoned the boats and their cargo after noticing 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 enhance security along the Volta Lake and neighbouring communities. He explained that the deployment was intended to prevent illicit activities and strengthen security along the waterway.
Captain Brobbey emphasised the need for continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering to detect and disrupt criminal operations. He also praised residents for sharing timely information that supports the work of security agencies.
The Ada East District Chief Executive and Chairman of the District Security Committee, Kenneth Kofi Kabu Kanor, urged residents not to allow the Volta Lake to become a route for transporting illicit drugs. He encouraged community members to report suspicious movements and activities to the appropriate security authorities.
The interception forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to strengthen monitoring of Ghana’s waterways and prevent their use for illicit drug trafficking.
