Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Ada, Nov. 06, GNA – The Ghana Navy has intercepted two boats carrying approximately 4.8 tonnes of suspected marijuana allegedly destined for Nigeria in an intelligence-led operation on the Volta Lake.
The consignment, estimated to have a street value of more than one million dollars, comprised 117 sacks, each containing about 80 packs of the suspected narcotic substance.
Naval Captain Festus Osei-Brobbey, Director of Naval Operations at the Naval Headquarters, announced this at a press briefing in Ada.
He said the operation was conducted by the Riverine Command of the Ghana Navy at about 0100 hours.
According to him, the two boats were found concealed along the banks of the Volta Lake, about 200 metres from Dalave village.
Naval Captain Osei-Brobbey said the suspects abandoned the boats and fled upon sighting the Navy’s patrol team.
He said the boats were subsequently conveyed to Ada-Foah, where they were searched at about 0500 hours in the presence of officials of the Narcotics Control Commission.
The search uncovered 117 sacks of suspected marijuana, with each sack containing approximately 80 packs.
Naval Captain Osei-Brobbey said preliminary intelligence gathered by the Navy indicated that the consignment was being transported to Nigeria.
He said the operation formed part of the Navy’s efforts to combat illicit activities within Ghana’s maritime domain and prevent the country from being used as a transit point for narcotics trafficking.
The Director of Naval Operations reiterated the Navy’s commitment to supporting the President’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking and strengthening border security through intelligence-sharing and collaboration with other security agencies.
He warned financiers, sponsors, organisers and other individuals involved in drug trafficking against exploiting Ghana’s maritime corridors for criminal activities.
“The Ghana Navy will continue to intensify its surveillance and monitoring efforts to identify, track and disrupt these networks in collaboration with all other stakeholders,” he said.
Naval Captain Osei-Brobbey assured the public of the Navy’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s territorial waters against drug trafficking and other illicit activities.
He urged citizens to provide credible and actionable information to support the Navy’s operations.
The Director of Naval Operations noted that the seizure was not the first major narcotics interception recorded on the Volta Lake.
GNA
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Email: [email protected]