The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects in connection with investigations into an alleged cocaine trafficking network known as ‘Bolle Jos’, as pressure mounts over a series of major drug seizures involving consignments linked to Ghana.

NACOC said the suspects are currently in its custody and are assisting investigators to establish their alleged roles in the network and the circumstances surrounding a cocaine shipment recently intercepted by French customs.

The Commission explained that the arrests form part of a broader investigation into the reported trafficking operation, with investigators working to uncover the individuals and structures allegedly involved.

NACOC has also sought to assure the public that the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the law, stressing that the rights and protections of all persons under investigation will be respected throughout the process.

The development comes at a time of heightened concern over Ghana’s alleged involvement in international narcotics trafficking, following several high-profile cocaine seizures linked to the country.

The issue has also triggered political pressure, with the Minority in Parliament demanding an independent parliamentary inquiry into what it describes as Ghana’s growing emergence as a transit hub for narcotics under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

In a statement issued on September 13, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, cited the seizure of a cocaine consignment valued at more than $260 million by French authorities as one of several cases warranting deeper scrutiny.

According to the Minority, the cocaine was concealed in a container carrying plastic waste, raising questions about security checks at Ghana’s ports and the effectiveness of existing systems for detecting and preventing illicit drug shipments.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour further argued that a number of major narcotics cases recorded under the Mahama administration point to what the Minority considers significant weaknesses in drug enforcement, port security and institutional oversight.

The Minority claims that cocaine seizures linked to Ghana under the Mahama-led administration have a combined value of more than $1 billion in less than two years, and is calling for Parliament to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding the cases.

While NACOC maintains that it is pursuing the latest arrests as part of its investigations, the unfolding cases are likely to intensify calls for greater scrutiny of Ghana’s role in the international fight against organised narcotics trafficking.

The Commission, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Ghana does not become a safe haven, transit point or operational base for organised drug trafficking.