Deputy Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Alexander Twum-Barimah, has clarified that suspects arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country are not linked to the food products and brands used for the operation.
His clarifications follow the widespread mention of some products and names of companies allegedly involved in cocaine smuggling on social media following recent arrest at the Kotoka International Airport.
This comes after NACOC recently arrested some two persons for attempting to smuggle 1.05 kg of cocaine by concealing the substance in different food products.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, February 11, 2026, Twum-Barimah explained that based on the investigations conducted so far, the individuals arrested are not workers or managers of the companies and brands used in the smuggling operation.
He, however, declined to disclose the product names and brands being used in the illicit operation. He justified that the Commission is cautious not to bring undue negativity for any brand or company.
“So far as we are concerned and based on where we have gotten to, they are not workers, they are not part of their management.
“But like I said, these are persons based on the investigation that we have done does not connect them to any of these four products that we have caught them using. So, we cannot say that they are persons of these companies that is why we have decided not to mention the companies or the product names to avoid any kind of wrong target,” he stated.
He noted that two persons have been arrested – a male and female and are currently on remand to appear before the court on February 24, 2026.
“The last three consignment that I mentioned, those who have been arrested, the lady and the guy are on remand and their next date is either February 23 or 24.”
Alexander Twum-Barimah revealed that NACOC since December 2025 has on three occasions arrested some individuals who attempted to smuggle cocaine out of the country.
The suspects, he said are currently facing trial in court.
Explaining the modus operandi of these persons, he stated that cocaine substances are mixed with food products without any knowledge of these companies to be smuggled out of the country.
He stressed that NACOC will bring to the attention of these companies and brands the dubious acts being carried out with their products.
“We will bring it to their notice and then we will get them in. we will bring them to notice that this is what someone is doing at the bad side of their business,” he said.
