NARCOC Boss Tells PAC: Drug Trafficker Acquires Scanner … To Test Whether Security Equipment Can Detect Narcotics

A suspected drug trafficker has obtained a scanner to evaluate the capability of security equipment to detect narcotics, according to Brigadier General Maxwell Obuaba Mantey, Director-General of Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). This development underscores the escalating tactics utilized by drug traffickers to exploit vulnerabilities in Ghana's security systems and avoid detection.

During a parliamentary appearance, Mantey, alongside Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, addressed security operations and challenges faced by law enforcement agencies. He cautioned that traffickers were continually refining their methods, while enforcement officers encountered obstacles due to insufficient operational infrastructure.

The lucrative profits from drug trafficking incentivize criminals to develop novel methods to circumvent security measures. During the past year, NACOC documented 165 drug trafficking cases, resulting in 217 arrests in 2025. The commission recently destroyed illicit drugs valued at approximately GH¢37 million following court approval.

Enforcement efforts have led to numerous seizures and arrests, including 28 drug busts in a recent period. The commission also intercepted tonnes of suspected cannabis and destroyed drugs valued at roughly GH¢37 million. Traffickers are attempting to bypass detection measures, such as mixing drugs with substances that interfere with detection dogs.

A security lapse involving a supervisor bypassing established checks at an airport was also cited. The NACOC has reinforced collaboration with international partners, receiving US$46,000 in forensic laboratory equipment. Despite challenges, the commission cooperates with international partners, Ghanaian agencies, and NGOs to address drug trafficking through enforcement, infrastructure, and intelligence-sharing.