Court orders destruction of $350 million cocaine arrested in Ghana after positive test

The massive 3319.66 kilogrammes of substance, which had been concealed in sacks, bags, and cleverly hidden in heaps of sand in a tipper truck to evade detection while being transported to Accra but was intercepted at Pedu junction in Cape Coast by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) have tested positive and confirmed to be cocaine.

The NIB in March 2025 intercepted the cocaine, with a street value of approximately $350 million.

They were hidden in a tipper truck loaded with sand.

The cocaine is currently at the centre of a trial at the High Court in Accra.

A presumptive test from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on Wednesday [June 4] confirmed it to be cocaine.  

The interception of the substance is the largest cocaine seizure in Ghana’s history.

It was tested by personnel of the GSA by taking samples randomly from three slabs of the 2,970 slabs of substance. 

The cobalt thiocyanate test was conducted in the presence of the trial judge, Justice Ruby Aryeetey, both state and defence attorneys, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Narcotic Control Commission (NCC) on Wednesday (June 4).

The exercise followed an order for inspection, testing and destruction which was granted by the High Court where three persons are currently standing trial on charges of allegedly importing drugs without lawful authority and engaging in prohibited narcotic business. 

With confirmation out of the way, the NIB can go ahead and destroy the exhibits following the court order.

Following the test, the state attorney had sought to tender the laboratory result covering several samples conducted at the GSA through one of the lab personnel but counsel for the accused persons, Victor Adawudu, objected to the tendering of same.

He argued that since both parties had not completed Case Management Conference (CMC), it was premature for the state to tender that document. 

This argument was upheld by the trial judge.

The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025 with samples taken in the presence of the parties for trial. 

The remaining exhibit is set to be destroyed on June 20, 2024.

Background 

In March this year, the NIB  intercepted a staggering 3,319.66 kilogrammes (3.3 tonnes) of substances suspected to be cocaine, with a street value of approximately $350 million.

The massive haul was concealed in sacks and bags cleverly hidden in heaps of sand in a tipper truck to evade detection.

However, the vigilant NIB operatives were able to uncover the illicit cargo, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against narcotics

The tipper truck was arrested at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast in the Central Region en route to Accra.

The interception of the over 3,300kg of cocaine is a significant achievement, marking about the largest cocaine seizures in the country’s history.

The driver of the tipper truck, 39-year-old Isaac Quaicoo, and his mate, Kenneth Cobbinah, a 25-year-old tertiary level student were arrested for investigation.

Also in the dock with them is Mawuku Kudufia.

Kelian Julien Mensah, Jefflean Kwadjo Ntow and Charles Hagan, who the state consider as prime suspects are still on the run.