LIST OF MAJOR COCAINE-RELATED BUSTS & CASES UNDER NDC AND NPP GOVERNMENTS SINCE 1992 🇬🇭
🟥 NDC — J.J. RAWLINGS | 1993–2001
▪️ 7 JAN 1996 — Frank Benneh cocaine case — Arrested in Switzerland.
Source: IPS.
▪️ 1996 — 264kg cocaine seized.
Source: Narcotics Control Board / IPS.
🔷 NPP — JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR | 2001–2009
▪️ JAN 2004 — 588.33kg cocaine, Tema — Six suspects convicted.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2005.
▪️ 2004 — Record drug-trafficking arrests reported at the time.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2005.
▪️ OCT 2005 — KIA cocaine-smuggling case — Cargo-handling supervisor arrested.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR.
▪️ 12 NOV 2005 — 580kg cocaine, Mpaesem — Two suspects arrested.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2006.
▪️ 12 NOV 2005 — NPP MP Eric Amoateng arrested in US — Heroin trafficking case.
Source: U.S. authorities.
▪️ APR 2006 — MV Benjamin — 77 parcels / approx. 2.31 tonnes of cocaine.
Source: Georgina Wood Committee / Ghana court records.
▪️ 2006 — Approx. 5kg cocaine disappeared from police evidence custody.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2008.
▪️ 2006 — Senior police officers investigated in cocaine scandal.
Source: Georgina Wood Committee.
▪️ 2006 — ACP Kofi Boakye investigated over cocaine-related allegations.
Source: Georgina Wood Committee / VOA.
▪️ 2006 — Christian Asem Darkeh “Limping Man” linked by prosecutors to MV Benjamin case.
Source: Ghana court records / GNA.
▪️ 2006 — 96 major narcotics cases pending before Ghanaian courts.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2007.
▪️ JUNE 2008 — 399kg cocaine intercepted — Suspects arrested.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2009.
▪️ JAN–AUG 2008 — 505 narcotics-related arrests.
Source: Ghana Police / U.S. State Department INCSR 2009.
🟥 NDC — JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS | 2009–2012
▪️ 19 MAY 2009 — 71.4kg cocaine, Tema Port — Six suspects arrested.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2010.
▪️ 1 SEPT 2009 — 154kg cocaine, MV St. Efrem — Arrests made.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2010.
▪️ 2009 — ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS UNDERCOVER NARCOTICS EXPOSÉ — Undercover investigation at Accra Psychiatric Hospital documented narcotics peddling and drug abuse, including cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
Source: Anas Aremeyaw Anas / IFEX.
▪️ OCT 2010 — 125kg cocaine, Tema Harbour — Suspects arrested.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2011.
▪️ 2010 — More than 220kg cocaine seized.
Source: U.S. State Department INCSR 2011.
🟥 NDC — JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA | 2012–2017
▪️ 19 NOV 2013 — 400kg+ cocaine, MV Attiyah — Crew detained.
Source: Ghanaian authorities / Graphic Online.
▪️ 10 NOV 2014 — Nayele Ametefeh — approx. 12.5kg cocaine — Arrested at Heathrow.
Source: UK authorities / Graphic Online.
▪️ NOV 2014 — Officials arrested during Nayele investigation.
Source: Ghana Police / Graphic Online.
🔷 NPP — NANA AKUFO-ADDO | 2017–2025
▪️ 2020 — 158.91kg cocaine seized.
Source: Ghana National AML/CFT/CPF Risk Assessment.
▪️ 2021 — 32.50kg cocaine seized.
Source: Ghana National AML/CFT/CPF Risk Assessment.
▪️ 2022 — 117.01kg cocaine seized.
Source: Ghana National AML/CFT/CPF Risk Assessment.
▪️ 10 JUNE 2024 — 166.88kg suspected cocaine, KIA — Two British nationals arrested.
Source: NACOC / UK National Crime Agency.
🟥 NDC — JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA | 2025–PRESENT
▪️ 4 MAR 2025 — Approx. 3.3 tonnes cocaine, Cape Coast — Suspects arrested.
Source: NIB / Ghana court records.
▪️ 5 AUG 2026 — 866 parcels of suspected cocaine, Tema — Arrests made.
Source: Ghana Police Service.
▪️ SEPT 2026 — Nearly 3.9 tonnes cocaine intercepted in Dunkirk from a Ghana-linked container.
Source: French Customs / Ghanaian authorities.
These are major busts over the years under both the NPP and NDC administrations. Systemically, there’s something we not getting right and politically, none has shown real interest in fighting this.
The cocaine-related issues in Ghana did not start today. Who are really the kingpins behind all of this?
I made a tweet
Someone replied that he has not had light in 48 hours
I asked where he stays
There are 2 idiots in the comment section asking me if I have the power to give him light. If I don’t have the power to give lights then why is he telling me he doesn’t have light
“I have an eye problem, and my wife has abandoned me and our children. We don’t have anything to eat, and we were even walking to Ahodwo.”
— A man breaks down in tears as he shares his struggles with his eyesight, being abandoned by his wife, and struggling to feed his children after a benevolent woman met him, gave him food, and a sum of money.