Ghana's Interior Minister, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has revealed that cannabis traffickers are exploiting vehicles meant for emergency services and cash transportation to move the drug undetected. According to Minister Muntaka, intelligence shows that ambulances and Bank of Ghana bullion vans are being used to smuggle cannabis across the country. These vehicles are rarely searched due to their legitimate and sensitive services, making them attractive to traffickers.
Minister Muntaka disclosed this information during an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on October 12, 2026. He stated that security agencies have received intel that ambulances and bullion vans are being used to conceal cannabis, which is often discovered when these vehicles are stopped and searched. The Minister cited instances where ambulances were found to be carrying cannabis instead of patients, and bullion vans were found to be carrying cannabis alongside cash.
The Minister also recounted a recent operation where security personnel seized dried cannabis hidden inside a shrine. The shrine's owners later complained that the security personnel had desecrated the sacred site. Minister Muntaka attributed such incidents to a casual attitude towards cannabis cultivation in some communities, where it is often assumed that cannabis is not a serious concern.
To combat cannabis trafficking, the government is pursuing a multi-faceted approach that includes farm destruction, arrests, and intelligence-led operations. Minister Muntaka assured that the government is dealing with the issue, destroying cannabis farms and making arrests. This approach aims to track down those involved in cannabis cultivation and trafficking.
Minister Muntaka's recent comments build on an earlier admission that Ghana had zero narcotics-detection gadgets when the current government took office. This lack of equipment has forced officers to rely on physical inspections rather than scanning technology, making it easier for traffickers to adapt and exploit vulnerabilities.
Cannabis is classified as a narcotic drug under Ghanaian law, and its cultivation and trafficking remain illegal. The use of ambulances and bullion vans to conceal cannabis raises questions about the thoroughness of vehicle screening, even for high-trust vehicles. This development also highlights the need for increased scrutiny to prevent delays in genuine emergencies.
The government has not provided a timeline for new equipment procurement, additional checkpoints, or specific prosecutions tied to the ambulance and bullion van allegations. Minister Muntaka emphasized that the government will continue to destroy cannabis farms, make arrests, and run intelligence-led operations against those involved in the trade.
Key points
- Cannabis traffickers are using ambulances and bullion vans to smuggle the drug undetected in Ghana.
- The government is pursuing a multi-faceted approach to combat cannabis trafficking, including farm destruction, arrests, and intelligence-led operations.
- Ghana's anti-narcotics system is still catching up on equipment, leaving officers to rely on physical inspections rather than scanning technology.
