The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has intensified its fight against illicit drugs, arresting 72 suspects during a series of intelligence-led operations across the Eastern and Greater Accra regions.
The coordinated exercise, dubbed Operation White Ember, formed part of a festive season crackdown aimed at disrupting drug trafficking and abuse during the holidays.
According to NACOC, the operations targeted several known drug hotspots, including Mamfe and Tutu in the Eastern Region, as well as Madina Redco Flats, Zongo Junction, and railway slum communities around Airport City in Accra.
On Boxing Day, officers expanded the raids to Tema Community One and Teshie Nungua, where dozens of suspects were apprehended. The operations were supported by NACOC’s K9 unit, which assisted in detecting and seizing illicit substances.
In addition to the raids, patrols were conducted at major shopping malls and along popular beaches in the capital as part of broader efforts to curb drug-related activities during the festive period.
Exhibits retrieved during the operations included ecstasy, methamphetamine, and alcoholic beverages laced with cannabis.
Beyond the arrests, NACOC highlighted the wider social impact of the exercise, noting that the intercepted drugs could have pushed thousands of people toward addiction if they had reached the streets.
Residents in affected communities reportedly welcomed the operation, with many gathering to applaud officers as suspected drug dealers were removed from their neighbourhoods.
As part of the exercise, NACOC officers also carried out on-the-spot public education, sensitising residents about the dangers of drug abuse and its effects on public safety.
The Commission has assured the public that Operation White Ember will be sustained in the coming weeks and months, as it works to ensure a safer and healthier environment during the festive season and beyond.
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