Navy intercepts 4.7 tonnes of suspected Indian hemp at Ada Estuary

The Ghana Navy has intercepted two wooden boats transporting 117 sacks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, with an estimated weight of 4.7 tonnes and a street value exceeding US$1 million, at the Ada Estuary.

The operation was conducted by the Navy's Riverine Command in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and National Security, according to a Facebook post issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

The seized consignment consisted of dried leaves packed into more than 80 parcels in each sack. Preliminary intelligence gathered by the security agencies indicated that the substances were being transported out of Ghana.

The Navy said the occupants of the boats abandoned the vessels and their cargo after noticing that naval personnel were pursuing them, before fleeing the area.

Speaking to the media, the Director of Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters, Captain Festus Osei Brobbey, disclosed that a riverine detachment had been deployed to strengthen security along the Volta Lake and adjoining communities.

He said the deployment was intended to deter illicit activities and enhance security along the waterway.

Captain Brobbey underscored the need for continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering to detect and disrupt criminal operations. He also praised residents for providing security agencies with timely information to support their work.

Meanwhile, the Ada East District Chief Executive and Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), Kenneth Kofi Kabu Kanor, warned residents against allowing the Volta Lake to become a transit route for illicit drugs.

He urged community members to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the appropriate security authorities.

The interception forms part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to intensify surveillance along Ghana's waterways and prevent criminal networks from using them to transport illicit substances.