healthUnder review

Dismantling drug cartels, preventing future trafficking key to joint operations – Interior Ministry

4 November 2026

The Press Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, Julius Kwame Anthony, says Ghana’s collaboration with international law enforcement agencies in drug trafficking operations is aimed at dismantling criminal cartels and preventing future illicit activities. The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest, which has renewed attention to Ghana’s cooperation with international agencies in tackling cross-border drug trafficking.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, November 4, he explained that some investigations extend beyond Ghana because the ultimate objective is to identify and dismantle the wider networks responsible for drug trafficking, rather than focus solely on arrests made within the country.

Mr Anthony said the operations were therefore conducted in collaboration with foreign partners to ensure that all those involved could be identified and brought to justice.

“The operations, the end of it is not in Ghana, so for a very long time, we do these operations in collaboration with our partners so that we can get the full end of it,” he said.

He cited a similar operation in 2022, during which Ghanaian authorities allowed suspects to travel through Kotoka International Airport so they could be arrested in the United Kingdom as part of a wider investigation.

“Our authorities in 2022 allowed them to travel through Kotoka, so that they could be arrested in the UK for purposes of the scope of operation they were undertaking. So it is not a new thing,” he added.

His comments follow the arrest of a Syrian national at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after he allegedly arrived from Accra with approximately 40 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) confirmed the arrest, which has renewed attention to Ghana’s cooperation with international agencies in tackling cross-border drug trafficking.

drug
operation
trafficking
interior
ministry
ghana
collaboration
arrest

Related news

crime

Publish taskforce roadmap, name suspects in Beirut cocaine case – NPP to government

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the seizure of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon. NPP calls for removal of NACOC, GACL leadership Beyond the parliamentary inquiry and publication of information surrounding the Beirut operation, Mr Boakye called for the removal of the leadership of NACOC and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).

2h ago

Read →

politics

New Mining Act to transform mining communities, end licence speculation and boost Ghana’s royalties – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has outlined major reforms in the new Mining Act currently before Parliament, which he says will transform mining communities, stop licence speculation and significantly increase Ghana’s mineral revenues. Statistics from the Ministry show that Ghana has 288 Forest Reserves, with almost 50 of them completely impacted by illegal mining.

6h ago

Read →

health

Colleague actors ignored my call to support drug advocacy – Timothy Bentum

Media personality and Lead Pastor of Grace Avenue Ministry, Timothy Bentum, has expressed disappointment over the lack of support he received from some of his colleagues in the Ghanaian movie industry when he sought their involvement in a drug abuse advocacy campaign. Timothy Bentum further disclosed that he is willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement, to protect the identities of industry players who are willing to support the advocacy but remain sceptical about coming on board publicly.

42m ago

Read →

politics

‘Yɛgye Yɛ Sika’ demo: NPP on ‘fishing expedition’ against Ablakwa – NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of targeting Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa because of his record in exposing alleged corruption. Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Tuesday, November 3, following the NPP’s ‘Yɛgye Yɛ Sika’ demonstration, the National Deputy Communications Director of the NDC, Julius Kwame Anthony, said the opposition was determined to make an example of Mr Ablakwa to discourage others from challenging corruption.

21h ago

Read →

crime

Lebanon would have debunked NACOC’s collaboration claim if false – Agalga

Majority Leader James Agalga has defended the Narcotics Control Commission’s (NACOC) account of its involvement in the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker in Lebanon, insisting that the Lebanese authorities would have publicly challenged the Commission’s claims if they were untrue. NACOC had earlier announced that the arrest of a Syrian national at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 31, followed a controlled delivery operation undertaken in collaboration with Lebanese drug law enforcement authorities.

1d ago

Read →

health

Okpebholo, Oba of Benin pledge support for NDLEA drug war

By Kingsley Omonobi BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, have pledged support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. Marwa and his delegation subsequently visited the Oba of Benin at his palace, where the NDLEA chairman described drug abuse as one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria.

3h ago

Read →