The Upper West Regional Police say forensic tests have confirmed cocaine in a seizure they describe as the first of its kind in the region.
Police in the Upper West Region have confirmed that 192 wraps of a substance seized from two people in Wa are cocaine, following forensic testing carried out with the Narcotics Control Commission, the state body responsible for controlling and policing narcotic drugs in Ghana.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Francis Yiribaare, gave the confirmation at a press briefing in Wa. He said the samples tested positive after examination.
What happened
The first suspect, identified by police only by the initials SK, was arrested at the ESP Bus Terminal in Wa with the consignment. A second person was also picked up in connection with the case.
Both suspects are currently on remand, meaning they are being held in custody while the case proceeds. Police say they are expected back in court on 9 October.
Why police are treating it as unusual
DCOP Yiribaare described the seizure as the first of its kind in the Upper West Region. That matters because the region, which shares borders with Burkina Faso, has not typically featured in cocaine seizures of this scale.
The commander said investigators are now examining whether the bust points to a new pattern in drug trafficking through the area, rather than a one-off incident. He said police are stepping up what he called "foot intelligence" — ground-level information gathering — to trace other people linked to the trade.
A warning to transport operators
A significant part of the briefing was aimed at owners of commercial vehicles. Bus terminals and long-distance transport routes are commonly used to move consignments across regions, and the arrest at the ESP terminal has put that route under scrutiny.
DCOP Yiribaare warned that vehicles used to carry narcotics could be seized by the state.
"If your vehicle is likely to be connected, we can apply for forfeiture of such vehicles used as carriers," he said, adding that "vehicle owners should be very careful because the law will catch up with them."
Forfeiture means a court can order that property used in a crime be taken over by the state. For a commercial driver or a small fleet owner, that can mean losing a main source of income.
The commander stressed that drug trafficking is a serious offence under Ghanaian law and that anyone found culpable will face the full legal consequences.
What happens next
The case returns to court in October. Police say investigations are continuing, and further arrests are possible as officers follow up on leads from the seizure.
For Ghanaians abroad watching developments at home, the case is one to follow because of what it may say about shifting trafficking routes through the north of the country — though police have not yet drawn that conclusion.
Reported first by Adom Online on 2026-09-19. This article was written for our readers based on that report. Follow the link for the original coverage.
