The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has taken delivery of ten Nissan Navara pickup vehicles from the Ministry of the Interior to improve mobility and response time on the ground.
The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, visited the Commission on Monday, February 2, 2026, where he presented the vehicles to the Director-General of NACOC on behalf of the Commission.
At a very brief but colourful handing-over ceremony the Minister for the Interior remarked that the event reflected the shared national responsibility to confront the drug menace and strengthen Ghana’s response.
According to him, the government, under President John Dramani Mahama, since assuming office has intensified its support for NACOC, as part of a broader effort to bolster national security, protect public health and disrupt organised criminal works.
“It is, therefore, with a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today to formally commission 10 new Navara pickup vehicles for the Narcotics Control Commission.
“This commissioning is intended to further strengthen the Commission’s operational capability by improving mobility, response time and effectiveness on the ground,” he said.
MAINTENANCE
The minister called for proper maintenance for the vehicles, stressing that they are public assets handed over to NACOC as a strategic resource aimed at enhancing rapid response, surveillance, interdiction and nationwide outreach.
“These vehicles are public assets. I, therefore, urge management and officers to ensure they are responsibly used, properly maintained and strictly deployed for official duties, guided at all times by professionalism and accountability.
OUTCOMES
The Minister for the Interior used the opportunity to announce the successes chalked by NACOC since 2025.
He mentioned that recent enforcement outcomes depict that government support for the NACOC was yielding positive results and credited the Director-General, General Maxwell Obuba Mantey and his management team for what he described as his “steady leadership”.
Giving some figures, the minister indicated that between 2024 and 2025 arrest cases increased from 56 to 158, representing a 182% rise.
During the same period, he stated that officers seized 840 kilogrammes of cannabis and 341 kilogrammes of cocaine.
At the same time, the drug market, the minister added, was evolving, with Tramadol accounting for 23% of the seized NPS piles, while the remaining 77% reflect a growing range of other psychotropic substances.
MEASURES
In a move to nip the canker in the bud, the minister stated that NACOC intensified target narcotic enforcement patrols during the festive season, from December 2025 through to January 2026 – focusing on identified hotspots across the capital and other strategic locations.
He explained that these special operations disrupted distribution networks during a critical period, enforced deterrence, and contributed directly to the positive enforcement outcomes recorded at the start of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Minister for the Interior announced that the government supports the effort to strengthen NACOC’s prosecutorial mandate.
He also indicated the support to deepen collaboration with the Attorney General’s Department and advance discussions towards the establishment of a special specialised narcotics court to fast-track drug-related cases and enhance deterrence.
GRATITUDE
In a welcome address that preceded the remarks of the Minister, the Director-General, General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, expressed the gratitude of the Commission to the minister for taking time to visit them at the Headquarters and not coming empty-handed.
“We are deeply grateful to you, Honourable Minister, for securing 10 Navarra pickup vehicles for narcotics operational use and making time to personally commission these vehicles today,” he said.
He said that the support was a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to narcotic operations and the security of the nation.
The D-G added that the vehicles will greatly enhance “our operational capacity, improve response times and enable officers to reach high-risk communities when required.”
He noted that the vehicles will strengthen NACOC’s surveillance, interdiction and intelligence-led operations.
The DG assured the minister that these vehicles will be responsibly deployed, properly maintained and used strictly in furtherance of their mandates to combat illicit drug trafficking, reduce drug abuse and protect the safety and well-being of the fellow citizens.
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