Police unearth GH¢1.4m cannabis haul concealed in mineral water cartons

The Oti Regional Police Command has uncovered a major narcotics shipment valued at over GH¢1.4 million, following a meticulous operation that involved securing a court order to search an abandoned truck intercepted late last year.

According to a press release issued by the Ghana Police Service from its regional headquarters in Dambai, the vehicle, a Volvo truck with registration number GC 3522-09, was stopped at the Bonakye checkpoint on December 29, 2025. The interception followed intelligence reports indicating the truck was being used to transport illegal goods.

Police reported that the driver and an accomplice fled the scene immediately upon the vehicle being stopped, abandoning the truck with its ignition key still inside.

The truck remained under police custody for nearly two months as legal processes were pursued. A breakthrough came on February 24, 2026, when the Jasikan Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Lambert Y. Kerieba, granted an order to open and search the vehicle at Nkwanta.

The search operation was conducted with strict adherence to protocol. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Military, the National Intelligence Bureau, Defence Intelligence, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Narcotics Control Commission were present, alongside members of the media.

A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a sophisticated concealment method. Hidden beneath 320 cartons of bottled mineral water were 91 bales of compressed vegetable matter suspected to be cannabis. In total, the haul comprised 7,173 individual slabs.

Police estimates place the street value of the seized narcotics at more than GH¢1.4 million.

Authorities have confirmed that the exhibits have been retained for evidential purposes as investigations continue. A manhunt has been launched to locate and apprehend the suspects who fled the scene.

The Oti Regional Police Command has appealed to the public to volunteer any credible information that could assist in combating the trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs within the region and beyond.