The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three people and shut down the Amsterdam Pub at Laboma in Accra following an intelligence-led operation over suspected drug-related activities at the facility.
In a statement issued on September 8, 2026, NACOC said the operation was conducted overnight on Friday, September 4, after intelligence indicated that the facility was allegedly being used in connection with narcotics-related activities .
Prime Suspect Still at Large
The three suspects arrested are currently assisting the Commission with investigations as it works to establish the full extent of activities taking place at the entertainment facility. However, NACOC said the prime suspect allegedly linked to the narcotics-related activities remains at large. Additional intelligence officers have consequently been deployed to track down and apprehend the suspect as investigations continue .
“The self-styled coffee shop has been closed to facilitate ongoing investigations and prevent the premises from potentially being used to facilitate further narcotic-related activities while the case is being pursued,” NACOC said .
A Shift in Enforcement Strategy
The operation signals a strategic shift by NACOC from its traditional focus on intercepting drug traffickers and couriers at Ghana’s major entry and exit points — including the Port of Tema, Kotoka International Airport and the Port of Takoradi — to targeting the domestic sales and distribution networks that fuel local consumption .
NACOC’s latest operation points to a broader intelligence-driven strategy aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling locations and networks suspected of facilitating the distribution, sale and use of illicit narcotic substances across the country .
The Commission added that the operation forms part of its broader intelligence-driven efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle locations and networks suspected of facilitating the distribution, sale and use of illicit narcotic substances .
Warning to Entertainment Establishments
NACOC has issued a stern warning to owners, managers and operators of pubs, nightclubs, lounges and other entertainment establishments against allowing their premises to become conduits for narcotics-related activities .
The Commission urged operators to exercise vigilance and ensure that their establishments are not used as safe havens or meeting points for individuals involved in the illicit narcotics trade .
“NACOC will continue to pursue businesses engaged in the sale, distribution, or facilitation of illicit narcotic substances,” the Commission stated .
Nationwide Crackdown Intensifies
The closure of Amsterdam Pub comes amid a broader intensification of NACOC’s enforcement activities across Ghana. Between 2025 and April 2026, the Commission recorded 217 arrests, secured 165 prosecutions, and seized more than 8.5 tonnes of narcotic drugs .
NACOC has also intercepted approximately 45.4 million tramadol tablets in less than 16 months — a quantity the Commission’s Director-General, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, warned was “enough opioid doses to medicate every man, woman, and child in Ghana” if distributed .
Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka disclosed in August 2026 that authorities had also recovered 73 assets linked to drug trafficking and seized about 19 kilogrammes of gold in suspected drug-money laundering cases. Approximately GH¢6.9 million and US$440,000 in cash have also been restrained in connection with suspected narcotics-related activities .
Rehabilitation Gap Identified
Despite the progress in enforcement and public education, the Interior Minister identified rehabilitation and recovery services as a major gap in Ghana’s response to substance abuse. He noted that the country currently does not have a state-owned rehabilitation centre, highlighting the need to strengthen rehabilitation infrastructure to support people struggling with substance use .
Treatment data from 2025 showed that 1,179 individuals received treatment and counselling through 30 treatment centres nationwide, with 50.5% of cases related to cannabis, 16.1% cocaine-related, 14.9% alcohol-related, and 14.6% opioid-related. Notably, 85.8% of clients were aged between 20 and 44 — Ghana’s productive workforce .
Public Cooperation Sought
NACOC has called upon the public to assist in the fight against the illegal narcotics trade by supplying pertinent information to law enforcement agencies .
The three suspects remain under investigation, and no charges or determinations of guilt have been made at this time. The Amsterdam Pub, located within the bustling Laboma enclave, has long been a popular nightlife destination in Accra .
