Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has identified the growing use of synthetic drugs as one of the major challenges confronting Ghana’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.

Synthetic drugs are substances manufactured through chemical processes to produce effects similar to, or sometimes more potent than, those of naturally occurring drugs. They include substances such as synthetic opioids, stimulants and other laboratory-produced psychoactive drugs.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 24, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) had intensified enforcement and public education efforts to tackle the growing threat.

“One of the biggest challenges now is the use of synthetic drugs, and Narcotics Control has intensified its efforts,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that security agencies intercepted about 45.4 million tramadol tablets between January 2025 and July 2026 as part of operations against illicit drugs.

“Imagine, in less than two years, over 45 million tablets of tramadol were seized — were intercepted,” he stated.

He added that more than 8,500 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs were seized during the same period, resulting in 217 arrests and 165 prosecutions.

Targeting drug traffickers and their assets

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the government’s campaign was not focused solely on drug users but also on traffickers and the financial networks that support the illicit trade.

“Our campaign is not just [targeted] at the users, but those who are bringing it,” he said.

According to the Minister, authorities had traced 73 assets linked to suspected drug-related activities.

Security agencies also seized about 19 kilogrammes of gold in suspected drug-related money-laundering cases and restrained approximately GH¢6.9 million and US$440,000 in cash allegedly linked to individuals involved in the illicit drug trade.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak commended the Director-General of NACOC and his team for what he described as their “bold and decisive” response to the drug menace.

He said NACOC was working with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to combine intelligence-led enforcement with public education as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.