The Tema Regional Police Command has seized 866 parcels of a white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine with an estimated street value of US$6.928 million in a major anti-narcotics operation.
The operation, carried out on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, led to the arrest of three suspects, while a separate operation at Tsopoli on the same day resulted in the arrest of another suspect and the seizure of four sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
Briefing journalists in Tema on Thursday, August 6, 2026, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Eric Asamoah Asiedu, said the two successful operations highlighted the Command's determination to disrupt drug trafficking networks through intelligence-led policing and close collaboration with the public.
He explained that at about 7:50 p.m. on August 5, the Tema Regional Police Command received credible intelligence that some individuals were loading parcels of a white powdered substance concealed in sacks of gari into a 40-foot container at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave for export.
He said acting swiftly on the information, a team of police officers proceeded to the warehouse, where they found three persons identified as Gilano Horwin, 31, a Dutch national; John Mensah Sabah, 41; and Alhaji Iddris Haruna, 52, allegedly supervising the loading operation.
DCOP Asiedu said the officers observed sacks of gari being loaded into a container mounted on a white DAF truck with registration number WR 1118-10.
He said the three suspects, together with the truck, were escorted to the Tema Regional Police Headquarters for further investigations. A thorough search of the consignment led to the discovery of 866 parcels of a white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine concealed inside the sacks of gari.
Street value
DCOP Asiedu said the suspected narcotics had an estimated street value of US$6,928,000, describing it as one of the largest drug seizures recorded by the Tema Regional Police Command in recent times.
He disclosed that during interrogation, Gilano Horwin allegedly admitted that the substance was cocaine and claimed ownership of it.
The Regional Police Commander said the three suspects remained in police custody to assist with investigations, while the recovered exhibits had been secured and would undergo forensic examination to determine the exact nature of the substance and support ongoing investigations into the attempted export.
He said the Police were also working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shipment and identify any other persons connected with the attempted export of the suspected narcotics.
Indian hemp
In a separate development on the same day, the Prampram District Police Command intercepted an Opel taxi cab allegedly transporting substances suspected to be Indian hemp at Tsopoli.
DCOP Asiedu said the Tsopoli Police received information at about 5:00 p.m. that a taxi loaded with suspected Indian hemp was being pursued.
Officers immediately responded and met an officer from the Akuse Police, who had initiated the pursuit with the assistance of commercial motor riders from Osuwem.
He explained that the pursuit involved a Hyundai H100 bus and an Opel taxi cab with registration number ER 564-X, both allegedly carrying sacks containing suspected Indian hemp.
While the Hyundai H100 bus managed to escape, the Opel taxi diverted onto the Agotor-Kpatsredor Road towards Tsopoli, where commercial motor riders joined the chase, leading to the interception of the vehicle and the arrest of its driver, Eric Tetteh.
A search conducted on the vehicle uncovered four sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, which were seized together with the vehicle.
The Regional Police Commander said Eric Tetteh allegedly admitted during interrogation that he was transporting the suspected narcotic from a village near Akuse.
He said the Police were working to identify and arrest the individuals who allegedly took away a fifth sack from the scene, while efforts were also underway to trace the escaped Hyundai H100 bus and apprehend all persons connected with the case.
DCOP Asiedu reiterated the Ghana Police Service's commitment to intensifying intelligence-led operations to detect and prevent the movement of illicit drugs through the Tema Region.
He cautioned persons engaged in narcotics-related activities that the Police would continue to pursue them and ensure they faced the full rigours of the law.
He also appealed to members of the public to volunteer credible information that could lead to the arrest of the occupants of the escaped Hyundai H100 bus and other suspects connected to the cases.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing.
Ends
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Number Crunch- US$6.928 million — Estimated street value of the consignment of suspected cocaine seized.
