NACOC shifts focus to drug dealers in new crackdown
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) is rolling out a new crackdown strategy that shifts its attention from users of illicit drugs to the masterminds behind the supply chain.
The Commission says this renewed approach is designed to cut off access at the source and deal a decisive blow to Ghana’s drug trafficking networks.
Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Alexander Twum-Barimah, explained that the Commission’s past practice of targeting drug users has not been effective in reducing overall consumption.
He said dismantling the distribution chains run by powerful drug lords offers a more sustainable solution to the problem.
“The belief of the current leadership is that even if we go after users, we would not be helping the situation. We should rather break the source. Once the source is cut off, there will be no access point for buyers,” Mr Twum-Barimah stated.
He revealed that the Commission has already gathered intelligence on some of the major suppliers operating in the country.
However, NACOC is carefully building strong cases to avoid failed prosecutions.
“We need to get certain things right before we strike. If you rush, you may get the person, but the prosecution could fail. We want to ensure that when we take action, the evidence will stand the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ in court,” Mr Twum-Barima stated.
The Commission believes that focusing on drug barons will not only reduce availability but also deter others from entering the trade.
By disrupting supply, NACOC expects demand to naturally decline over time, especially among young people who are most vulnerable to addiction and its consequences.
NACOC says it is determined to pursue this new path with the support of security agencies and international partners.
The Commission has assured the public that its strategy will be intelligence-driven, evidence-based, and aimed at safeguarding the future of Ghana’s youth.
“Protecting society, especially young people, from the devastating effects of drug abuse is at the heart of this renewed fight,” Mr Twum-Barimah stressed.
Drug abuse remains one of Ghana’s pressing social challenges, with increasing reports of trafficking, youth involvement, and the rise of synthetic substances.
Civil society organisations and health experts have long called for a shift in focus from punishing users to dismantling the larger criminal networks behind the trade.
