{
  "id": 8424682,
  "title": "Cocaine bust: My concern is how much of it is in Ghana - Kwadwo Poku",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/cocaine-bust-my-concern-is-how-much-of-it-is-in-ghana-kwadwo-poku",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T09:06:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/news/cocaine-bust-our-concern-should-also-be-how-much-of-it-is-in-ghana-kwadwo-poku"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NPP member and energy analyst Kwadwo Poku has expressed concern about the potential large amounts of cocaine present in Ghana following several seizures of significant quantities of the drug on the country's roads. Poku questioned whether the focus should solely be on arrests and seizures outside Ghana, after the drug passes through the country's ports, or if more attention should be given to determining the source and routes through which cocaine enters the nation. In an interview on TV3's The KeyPoints, Poku highlighted previous cocaine seizures in Ghana, including one where cocaine was concealed under sand in a truck at Pedu and another bust on the Cape Coast-Takoradi road. \"We are arresting huge amounts of cocaine on our roads,\" Poku stated.\n\nPoku emphasized that Ghana does not produce cocaine and questioned how the drug is entering the country. \"We don't manufacture cocaine in Ghana. So, the first question is how is it coming in and what intelligence does NACOC have in the movement of cocaine when it comes to Ghana?\" he asked. Poku emphasized that the issue is not limited to one illicit product on the market, but rather the broader concern of other undetected illicit substances entering the Ghanaian market.",
  "summary": "Kwadwo Poku, an energy analyst and NPP member, has expressed concerns about the possible large quantities of cocaine in Ghana following a series of seizures of the drug on the country's roads. This comes after French customs seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, worth about €225 million, at Dunkirk. The drugs were hidden in a container of plastic waste from Ghana.\n\nFour Ghanaians have been arraigned in Accra in connection with the shipment. According to 3News, Poku raised concerns about the possible huge quantities of cocaine in Ghana at the moment.\n\nThe seizure and subsequent arraignment of the four Ghanaians have brought attention to the issue of cocaine in the country, with Poku's comments highlighting the potential scope of the problem.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Newsfile to discuss Ghana Jollof nurse case, cocaine shipment, COVID audit and constitutional reforms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/newsfile-to-discuss-ghana-jollof-nurse-case-cocaine-shipment-covid",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:21:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}