Informant’s $20m demand cost NACOC a possible big drug bust – Interior Minister

Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka announced that a potential large-scale drug seizure was thwarted due to an informant's demand for $20 million to provide information to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). During an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on October 12, Muntaka expressed concern over the unreasonable nature of such a request, considering the commission's limited resources.

He questioned how an informant could make such a demand given the commission's financial constraints. The minister highlighted the challenges faced by security agencies in obtaining intelligence from the public, emphasizing that credible information is crucial in stopping crimes and leading to arrests. Muntaka assured the public that the government is open to paying informants for credible information, but the demands must be reasonable and within the means of the institutions involved.

He stressed that when an agreement has been made to pay for information, the state must honor its commitment if the information proves to be reliable. The minister encouraged citizens to understand that law enforcement agencies operate with limited resources and cannot meet every financial demand. He praised Ghana’s progress in identifying and arresting drug trafficking suspects, crediting international cooperation and improved suspect identification techniques.

Muntaka noted that identifying individuals involved in such crimes can now be done within three to four days, a significant improvement from previous times. He called for continued intelligence sharing among countries to combat drug trafficking, as trafficking networks often operate across borders. The minister urged the public to report any suspicious activity, saying "You see something, say something."