Tema Police seize cocaine worth US$6.9m, arrest four suspects in anti-drug operations
The Tema Regional Police Command has intercepted 866 parcels of a white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine, with an estimated street value of US$6.928 million, in a major intelligence-led anti-narcotics operation.
The operation, conducted on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Tema Port enclave, resulted in the arrest of three suspects who were allegedly supervising the loading of the consignment into a 40-foot container for export.
In a separate operation at Tsopoli on the same day, the Police also arrested another suspect and seized four sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
Addressing journalists in Tema on Thursday, August 6, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Eric Asamoah Asiedu, said the successful operations demonstrated the Command’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks through intelligence gathering and collaboration with the public.
He explained that the Command received credible information at about 7:50 p.m. on August 5 that some individuals were loading parcels of a white powdered substance concealed in sacks of gari into a 40-foot container at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave for export.
According to DCOP Asiedu, a police team was immediately dispatched to the warehouse, where they found three persons allegedly supervising the loading process.
The suspects were identified as 31-year-old Dutch national Gilano Horwin, John Mensah Sabah, 41, and Alhaji Iddris Haruna, 52.
He said the officers found sacks of gari being loaded into a container mounted on a white DAF truck with registration number WR 1118-10.
The suspects, together with the truck and the consignment, were taken to the Tema Regional Police Headquarters, where a detailed search was conducted.
The search led to the discovery of 866 parcels of a white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine hidden inside the sacks of gari.
DCOP Asiedu said the substance has an estimated street value of US$6,928,000, describing the seizure as one of the significant narcotics interceptions recorded by the Command in recent times.
He added that during interrogation, Horwin allegedly admitted that the substance was cocaine and claimed ownership of the consignment.
The Regional Police Commander said the three suspects remain in custody assisting investigations, while the recovered exhibits have been secured for forensic examination to confirm the exact nature of the substance.
He said investigators are also working to establish the full details surrounding the attempted export and identify other persons who may be connected to the shipment.
Suspected Indian Hemp Seized at Tsopoli
Meanwhile, the Prampram District Police Command has intercepted an Opel taxi cab allegedly transporting substances suspected to be Indian hemp at Tsopoli.
DCOP Asiedu said the Police received information at about 5:00 p.m. that a taxi loaded with suspected narcotics was being pursued.
He explained that officers responded and joined an Akuse Police officer who had initiated the pursuit with support from commercial motor riders from Osuwem.
The chase involved a Hyundai H100 bus and an Opel taxi cab with registration number ER 564-X, both allegedly carrying sacks containing suspected Indian hemp.
While the Hyundai H100 bus escaped, the Opel taxi diverted onto the Agotor-Kpatsredor Road towards Tsopoli, where it was intercepted and the driver, Eric Tetteh, was arrested.
A search of the vehicle uncovered four sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, which were seized together with the taxi.
According to DCOP Asiedu, the suspect allegedly admitted during interrogation that he was transporting the suspected narcotics from a village near Akuse.
He said efforts were underway to identify and arrest persons who allegedly removed a fifth sack from the scene, as well as trace the escaped Hyundai H100 bus and its occupants.
The Tema Regional Police Commander reiterated the Police Service’s commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations against illicit drug trafficking and warned individuals involved in narcotics-related activities that they would be pursued and prosecuted.
He also appealed to the public to provide credible information that could assist in the arrest of other suspects linked to the two cases.
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.