NACOC Intensifies Anti-Drug Operations With Searches and Public Education at Accra Bus Terminals
The Narcotics Control Commission launched a sweeping anti-drug operation at major bus terminals across Accra on Thursday, combining physical searches of passengers, luggage, and vehicles with direct public education aimed at curbing the movement of illicit substances through the country’s public transport network.
The operation, which began at 4:30 a.m., covered four key transit points: the State Transport Company’s main station, the STC Circle Branch, the 2 PM Express Station, and the Neoplan Station. NACOC’s Canine Unit and Education and Prevention Department led the exercise, with support from the Tactical Deployment Unit.
Officers conducted comprehensive searches of passengers and their luggage before departure, screened transport operators including drivers and loaders for drug use, and provided immediate counselling and guidance to anyone who tested positive. The dual approach — enforcement paired with education — represents what NACOC describes as a holistic strategy to address both the supply and demand sides of the narcotics trade.
Public education sessions at the terminals featured interactive discussions with travellers, practical advice on staying safe from drug-related risks while on the road, and question-and-answer sessions with NACOC personnel. The commission said the outreach was designed to help ordinary Ghanaians understand the legal consequences of narcotics-related offences and the personal dangers of drug abuse.
Bus terminals have long been identified as vulnerable nodes in Ghana’s drug trafficking landscape. The volume of passengers, the anonymity that comes with mass transit, and the long distances covered by intercity coaches make them attractive channels for moving illicit drugs between regions. NACOC’s decision to pair enforcement with education at these locations signals an acknowledgment that seizures alone cannot solve the problem.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up enforcement, education, and prevention initiatives nationwide as part of a broader strategy to build a drug-free society. Recent partnerships with the Ghana Journalists Association, the University of Professional Studies, and international agencies including the Netherlands Police for K9 training reflect a widening net of collaboration.
Thursday’s operation adds to a growing list of anti-drug exercises that NACOC has conducted across the country in recent months, including raids along the Techiman–Wenchi highway and in Winneba. The commission has also begun scientific testing of seized drugs ahead of the 2026 World Drug Day destruction exercise, a step officials say strengthens the evidentiary foundation of drug prosecutions.
For the travelling public, the message was clear: the days of unchecked transit through Ghana’s bus terminals are numbered, and ignorance of the law will no longer serve as a defence.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
