NACOC Reinstated at Ports as Government Targets Gaps in Anti-Drug Operations

ACCRA, Ghana — The government has announced the reinstatement of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to conduct mandatory joint cargo inspections at the nation's ports as part of comprehensive measures to eliminate critical security vulnerabilities exploited by international drug cartels.

​Addressing parliamentary press correspondents at Parliament House in Accra, Majority Leader James Agalga stated that while NACOC has expanded its operational footprint nationwide, ongoing transformation remains essential to bridge existing deficits in technology, port access, and specialized infrastructure.

​Port Inspection Security Gaps Highlighted

​Government officials emphasized that security gaps at Ghana's entry points go beyond a shortage of physical scanning equipment. The primary structural issue stems from the breakdown of an end-to-end narcotics control chain spanning initial cargo profiling, joint inspection, and final clearance.

​Officials cited a previous policy decision that removed NACOC from mandatory joint inspections at Tema Port as a key factor that weakened border interdiction efforts. During the briefing, Agalga noted that a narcotics control agency without eyes to see cargo coming through the country's busiest port is effectively called upon to guard a door without a key. To address these vulnerabilities, government has directed NACOC's mandatory participation in all joint container inspections, full operational integration into the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), real-time access to customs cargo tracking platforms, and the establishment of fully operational security check desks across primary entry points.

​Expanding Personnel and Inter-Agency Counter-Trafficking Capabilities

​Highlighting the agility of transnational trafficking syndicates, officials observed that drug networks frequently divert routes toward less-monitored channels across air, land, and sea whenever they encounter heightened enforcement.

​To counter these tactics, the government has approved the recruitment of 1,200 additional personnel for NACOC to strengthen field enforcement. Future state investments will prioritize the deployment of modern detection technologies, dedicated maritime surveillance assets, real-time data sharing across border control agencies, and expanded funding for drug prevention and rehabilitation programs. Reaffirming a commitment to inter-agency coordination, officials urged the public to anticipate increased interceptions and arrests as law enforcement agencies step up operational searchlights across national transit corridors.

​For additional commentary on recent port security procedures and system responses, watch this discussion on ICUMS and port security controls detailing how cargo scanning mechanisms and system checks operate under national security oversight.