Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Builsa North, Hon. James Agalga, has disclosed that a dedicated forensic laboratory for the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) is currently under construction, as part of a broader government push to strengthen the country’s capacity to combat drug trafficking.
Addressing the media on recent drug busts in Ghana, Hon. Agalga outlined a series of investments and reforms undertaken by government to modernise NACOC’s operations, ranging from expanded regional presence to enhanced financial disruption of criminal trafficking networks.
Hon. Agalga announced that NACOC’s operational footprint has, for the first time in its history, extended to all 16 regions of the country.
He explained that this expansion marks a fundamental shift away from narcotics control being managed primarily from headquarters, moving enforcement, intelligence gathering and prevention efforts directly into the districts where trafficking and substance abuse actually occur.
According to Hon. Agalga, this decentralisation ensures that the Commission’s presence is felt in communities most affected by drug-related activity, rather than remaining concentrated in a central administrative hub distant from the realities on the ground.
Logistics And Forensic Capability Boosted
On logistics, Hon. Agalga revealed that government has deployed 35 operational vehicles to strengthen NACOC’s mobility and response capability nationwide, enabling faster and more coordinated action across the country’s regions.
He further confirmed that a dedicated forensic laboratory for the Commission is currently under construction, a development expected to reduce reliance on external laboratories and significantly improve both the speed and quality of narcotics-related prosecutions.
Hon. Agalga also detailed efforts to modernise NACOC’s intelligence infrastructure, citing the acquisition of twelve units of the i2 Analyst’s Notebook software alongside Cellebrite digital forensic tools, complemented by ongoing training in intelligence analysis, digital investigation and professional certification.
He explained that these upgrades represent a shift in the Commission’s approach, moving away from simply counting individual drug seizures toward a more sophisticated model capable of linking evidence, tracing criminal networks, and prosecuting entire trafficking operations rather than isolated offenders.
Targeting Trafficking Finances
A central theme of Hon. Agalga ‘s briefing was government’s emphasis on disrupting the financial infrastructure underpinning drug trafficking rather than focusing narrowly on drug seizures alone.
“Drug control is not about the courier. It is about the criminal network and its profits.”
Hon. James Agalga
Hon. Agalga reported that between July 2025 and August 2026, NACOC restrained 73 landed properties and seized over 19 kilograms of gold linked to suspected drug and money-laundering operations.
He added that the Commission also restrained cash and assets valued at over 6.9 million Ghana cedis and 440,000 United States dollars during the same period, figures he described as evidence of a deliberate shift from seizure-counting toward disrupting the financial networks that sustain organised trafficking.
Acknowledging Infrastructure Gaps
Despite these gains, Hon. Agalga was candid about existing infrastructure and resource limitations, stating that the assessment being presented was not intended as a justification for shortcomings but rather an honest evaluation of government’s current performance and the priorities shaping future reform.
He identified the country’s ports as an area of particular concern, explaining that the primary challenge is not merely the absence of scanning equipment but the lack of a complete and effective narcotics control chain, from initial profiling through to final release of cargo.
He called for consistent NACOC participation in all relevant joint inspections, integration of the ICUMS system with real-time customs and cargo tracking data, and the establishment of a fully operational NACOC security desk at ports of entry.
“Traffickers never give up. When one route is difficult, they adjust to the least controlled route.”
Hon. James Agalga
Hon. Agalga warned that this adaptability applies equally to the country’s airports, maritime routes and land borders, underscoring the need for comprehensive, coordinated control measures across all entry points rather than isolated interventions at any single location.
Priorities For Future Investment
Looking ahead, Hon. Agalga outlined government’s next phase of investment priorities, which he said would focus on modern detection technology, dedicated maritime assets, real-time data integration across customs, ports, border agencies and intelligence services, as well as continued investment in personnel, prevention and treatment capacity.
He concluded by urging all security and law enforcement agencies to strengthen collaboration in tackling the drug trade, framing the fight against narcotics trafficking as a shared national responsibility requiring sustained, coordinated effort across multiple institutions rather than isolated agency action.
As government continues to roll out these reforms, attention will now turn to how quickly the promised infrastructure, including the forensic laboratory and expanded port security measures, can be completed and integrated into the country’s broader narcotics control strategy.
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