Ghana identified as major transit hub for heroin and cocaine

Ghana has been identified as a significant transit hub for international drug trafficking, according to the Global Organised Crime Index. The report highlights that the country serves as a waypoint for heroin originating from Afghanistan and cocaine supplied primarily from Brazil. Traffickers often use commercial cargo, such as sugar containers, to move drugs through trans-shipment points like Spain or Turkey before they reach Ghanaian ports like Tema and Takoradi.

In 2025, Ghana was ranked as the fifth-largest country of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, making it the only African nation in the top five. Belgian customs reported significant seizures involving Ghanaian shipments, including nearly four tonnes of cocaine discovered in consignments such as cassava flour.

The report also raises concerns regarding potential political protection of illicit markets. Law enforcement and civil society stakeholders suggest that a decline in visible trafficking and media coverage may be due to government sections facilitating the movement of drugs through the country’s transport infrastructure.