22 drug seizures under Mahama means NACOC operations improved, intelligence now working – Agalga

Majority Leader James Agalga has defended the 22 drug seizures recorded in Ghana under the Mahama administration, insisting they point to stronger intelligence gathering and surveillance by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), rather than an increase in drug trafficking.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Agalga responded to questions from Evans Mensah about the 29 drug seizures recorded since January 2025, arguing that interceptions made within the country should be viewed as evidence of the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

Mensah had questioned why the government should regard the seizures as an achievement when they also indicated that traffickers had succeeded in moving illicit substances through Ghana.

However, Agalga maintained that the ability of security agencies to detect and intercept the drugs showed that they were making progress in disrupting trafficking networks.

“When drugs are seized within our jurisdiction, it means that we are doing well in the fight against illicit drugs,” he said.

He explained that the interceptions demonstrated that intelligence gathered by law enforcement agencies was yielding results and enabling them to identify and disrupt the operations of drug cartels.

“When seizures are made, it means that intelligence is working. The drug law enforcement agencies are on top of the game. That is why they are able to interdict the operations of drug cartels, seize or impound drugs and arrest culprits in the process,” he explained.

Agalga also linked the increase in seizures to NACOC’s expanded nationwide operations, noting that the commission previously lacked offices in every region but now had a presence across the country.

He further pointed to an increase in the number of NACOC officers, saying the additional personnel had improved the commission’s capacity to monitor suspected trafficking activities and apprehend offenders.

According to him, the expanded regional presence allows officers to identify and respond to drug-related activities in locations where enforcement efforts were previously limited.

He added that the absence of recorded seizures in a particular area should not be taken to mean that drug trafficking was not occurring there, as it could also reflect the inability of security agencies to detect such activities.