The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has conducted a formal field test on a massive cocaine consignment intercepted in March 2025.
The suspected drugs, with an estimated street value of $350 million, were tested at the NIB headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, June 4, in the presence of Criminal Court 1 Judge, Her Ladyship Ruby Aryeetey, the accused persons, and their legal counsel.
In March, TV3 was granted exclusive access to the NIB’s storeroom, where the high-purity cocaine measuring a staggering 3,319.68 kilograms—had been kept under tight security. The substance, reportedly smuggled into the country via sea fishing vessels, was intercepted in a tipper truck en route to Accra from the Western Region.
The consignment is believed to have a purity level ranging from 50% to 70%, making it one of the largest and most potent cocaine busts in Ghana’s history.
Two suspects, Isaac Quaicoe and Kenneth Cobbinah, were initially arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. A third suspect, Mawuku Kudufia, has also been apprehended. The three face charges including the unlawful importation of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited narcotics trade.
During the June 4 court-supervised exercise, forensic experts applied a cobalt thiocyanate reagent and hydrochloric acid to samples of the suspected substance. The test yielded a blue coloration, indicating a positive result for cocaine.
Additional verification was done using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography equipment to confirm the composition and purity levels of the samples.
Following the successful testing, the NIB has secured a court order to destroy the seized cocaine on June 20, 2025, at Bundase, a controlled facility typically used for the disposal of illicit substances.
Despite the major arrests, the authorities are still on the hunt for three prime suspects: Kelian Julien Mensah, Jefflean Kwadwo Ntow, and Charles Hagan, who remain at large.
This latest development underscores Ghana’s growing efforts to tackle drug trafficking head-on, as security agencies work in tandem to ensure that such dangerous substances are removed from circulation and that those responsible are brought to justice.
