3.3-tonne cocaine haul is said to be the largest bust in Ghana's history

The High Court in Accra has ordered the destruction of a massive 3,319.66-kilogram (3.3-tonne) haul of cocaine, valued at approximately $350 million, on June 20, 2025. The order follows the interception of the drugs by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in March 2025.

The seizure, confirmed as the largest cocaine bust in Ghana’s history, involved cocaine concealed in a tipper truck and discovered at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast, Central Region, while en route to Accra from the Western Region.

The cocaine, hidden in 143 sacks beneath heaps of sand, was initially seized on March 4, 2025, weighing 2,974 kilograms. Subsequent intelligence-led operations on March 8 led NIB officers to a suspect’s residence, where an additional 13 sacks and one bag—totaling 345.07 kilograms—were recovered.

According to a report by Graphic Online, laboratory tests conducted by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) confirmed the substance as high-purity cocaine, with purity levels ranging from 50% to 70%.

A presumptive cobalt thiocyanate test was conducted on June 4, in the presence of trial judge Justice Ruby Aryeetey, state and defense attorneys, as well as personnel from the NIB and NACOC. The test, which involved random sampling from three of the 2,970 slabs, verified the substance as cocaine.

The court’s order for inspection, testing, and destruction paves the way for the disposal of the seized cocaine, with samples retained for the ongoing trial, which has been adjourned to June 24, 2025.

Three suspects are currently standing trial for allegedly importing drugs without lawful authority and engaging in prohibited narcotic business. They include the tipper truck driver, Isaac Quaicoo (39), his mate, Kenneth Cobbinah (25), a tertiary student, and Mawuku Kudufia.

According to the Graphic Online report, state attorneys attempted to tender laboratory results from the GSA as evidence, but defense counsel Victor Adawudu objected, citing the incomplete Case Management Conference (CMC). The trial judge upheld the objection.

Meanwhile, the NIB has identified additional suspects, including Charles Hagan, who allegedly contracted the driver, as well as Kelian Julien Mensah and Jefflean Kwadjo Ntow, who remain at large. A search of the residence of Francis Awortwi, a close associate of Hagan, uncovered further suspected cocaine.

GA