Police Recover 3,752 Suspected Indian Hemp Slabs in Ada Canoe Interception; No Arrests Yet

The Tema Regional Police Command has recovered 3,752 compressed slabs of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp after intercepting an abandoned canoe on the Volta Lake at Ada, but the suspected traffickers escaped into the river and remain at large.

The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation on November 4, 2026, after Marine Police received information that a consignment of suspected narcotics was being transported from Jemeniweres through the Volta Lake towards Ada . Officers deployed to Mepe in the Volta Region found that the suspects had already fled in their canoes, prompting the team to proceed to Big Ada to continue the pursuit .

At about 11:10 p.m., the suspects were intercepted on Agorta Island in Ada. However, they dived into the river and escaped, abandoning their canoe and its contents . The canoe was subsequently retrieved and transported to the Marine Police Base at Ada.

Search Reveals Large Consignment

A search of the canoe uncovered 53 sacks containing suspected narcotic substances, two outboard motors, 30 yellow gallons containing petrol and premix fuel, a cutlass, and other items . The following day, November 5, the sacks were opened and their contents counted at the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Tema, revealing a total of 3,752 compressed and cello-taped slabs of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp .

The suspected narcotics have been secured as exhibits pending further examination.

No Arrests Made

The police statement, signed by ASP Dede Dzakpasu, Head of Public Affairs for the Tema Regional Police Command, confirmed that no arrests had been made in connection with the operation . “Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspects,” the statement said .

The Command reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and urged members of the public to volunteer credible information that could assist investigations and enforcement efforts .

Background: A Recurring Route

The Volta Lake corridor has emerged as a recurring transit point for suspected narcotics in Ghana. In February 2026, the Tema Regional Police Command impounded a Sinotruk tipper truck carrying over 3,000 slabs of suspected narcotics at Sege Akpla Manya, with the driver abandoning the vehicle and fleeing . The same month, the Oti Regional Police Command intercepted a long trailer at Dambai carrying 4,000 parcels of suspected narcotics concealed in secret compartments beneath the vehicle .

More recently, on November 8, the Bono Regional Police Command arrested two men after 41 compressed slabs of suspected cannabis were found in a commercial bus on the Sunyani-Berekum highway. The driver allegedly offered officers GH¢9,000 to secure their release, but the bribe was rejected and retained as an exhibit .

The Ada interception underscores the challenges facing marine law enforcement along Ghana’s inland waterways, where suspects can abandon vessels and escape into the river with relative ease. Police have not disclosed whether they have identified any persons of interest in the case.

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Reporter’s note: The substance has not yet been confirmed as Indian hemp by laboratory examination; police describe it as “suspected” pending forensic analysis. No suspects are in custody, and investigations remain ongoing.