The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has intensified its behavioral detection and canine (K9) operations at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in a renewed effort to curb drug trafficking through the country’s principal international gateway.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with NACOC’s Enforcement Unit stationed at the airport, targeted both inbound and outbound passengers for signs and behaviors commonly associated with involvement in narcotics trafficking. The enhanced surveillance saw the deployment of trained sniffer dogs, advanced scanning equipment and behavioral profiling techniques to support screening activities.
According to officials, the exercise was designed to closely monitor passenger movements while ensuring minimal disruption to airport operations. Although the focus was on selected airlines, any individual identified as a person of interest regardless of airline or flight was subjected to further investigation, highlighting NACOC’s commitment to a non-discriminatory, intelligence-driven approach.
Strategic searches were conducted at key locations within the airport, including the Aviance ground-handling facility, as part of broader efforts to close security gaps often exploited by drug traffickers. In addition to enforcement, officers took the opportunity to educate travelers and airport personnel on the dangers of drug trafficking, substance abuse, and the severe legal consequences associated with narcotics offences.
The visibility of the K9 unit was intentionally increased to serve as a deterrent to would-be traffickers and to bolster public confidence in NACOC’s operations. The Commission emphasized that officers carried out the exercise professionally, balancing firm enforcement with respect for passenger rights and aviation security protocols.
The intensified operation resulted in the seizure of quantities of pethidine and morphine, both of which are controlled substances under Ghana’s narcotics laws, underlining the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement and canine-assisted screening.
NACOC stated that similar intelligence-driven operations will be sustained at airports, seaports and land border crossings across the country as part of its ongoing strategy to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks and safeguard Ghana’s international reputation. The public and key industry players were also urged to cooperate with authorities as efforts to prevent the use of Ghana’s transport hubs for illicit drug trafficking continue.