The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested 72 suspects in a major festive season clampdown on illicit drugs, codenamed Operation White Ember.
In a statement, the Commission detailed coordinated, intelligence-led operations across the Eastern and Greater Accra regions.
Raids targeted known drug hotspots from Mamfe and Tutu in the Eastern Region to areas including Madina Redco Flats, Zongo Junction, and railway slums near Airport City in Accra.
The operation expanded on Boxing Day to Tema Community One and Teshie Nungua, where officers, supported by a K9 unit, made numerous arrests and seized quantities of illicit substances.
NACOC also conducted patrols at major shopping malls and popular beaches in the capital to deter drug-related activities during the holidays.
Exhibits recovered include ecstasy, methamphetamine, and cannabis-laced alcoholic beverages.
NACOC emphasized the operation’s broader social impact, stating the intercepted drugs potentially represent “thousands of lives saved from the brink of addiction” this festive season.
Officers engaged with residents in the affected communities, many of whom reportedly cheered the removal of suspected drug peddlers from their neighborhoods.
On-site public education was also conducted on the dangers of drug abuse and its impact on community safety.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation White Ember, promising continued raids in the coming days and months to ensure a safe, joyful, and healthy festive period and beyond for all citizens.
