By Ashiadey Dotse
Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has announced that cocaine worth more than $350 million, intercepted at Pedu Junction in the Central Region, has been destroyed following a court order, while the suspects linked to the case continue to stand trial.
Mr Muntaka made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Assurances Committee on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
He said the cocaine was intercepted by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in March 2025 after officers found it hidden in a tipper truck carrying sand.
The Minister explained that the drugs were destroyed only after authorities obtained a court order, in line with legal procedures.
He told the committee that evidence of the destruction, including a copy of the court order and video footage, had been submitted on a pen drive.
Mr Muntaka assured Parliament that destroying the cocaine would not affect the ongoing prosecution of the accused persons.
He said the case was last adjourned on April 30, 2026, and the suspects were expected to return to court on June 29, 2026. However, the hearing could not take place because it coincided with the June 29, 2026, floods. A new hearing date is yet to be fixed.
The Minister said three people have been charged in connection with the seizure and are currently on bail.
He disclosed that the driver of the tipper truck and a female domestic worker were among those arrested.
Mr Muntaka added that investigations are continuing to identify and arrest other persons believed to be connected to the drug shipment.
He said Ghanaian authorities are working with international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, while stop-list measures have been activated to prevent suspects from leaving or re-entering the country unnoticed.
The cocaine was intercepted as part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat drug trafficking and organised crime in Ghana.
