Ghana arrests Nigerian drug kingpin, seizes $2.1m cocaine, heroin

The Narcotics Control Commission in Ghana has arrested a suspected Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, in an intelligence-led raid at his hideout in Accra.

The 56-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of $2.1 million.

The acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 19.

According to the statement, field tests confirmed the seized substances as cocaine and heroin.

Authorities believe Chima has been a key player in previous drug-related seizures and arrests in the country.

The statement read, “An intelligence led operation by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, resulted in the arrest of a 56 year old Nigerian, Uchechukwu Chima at Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.

“A search conducted by the NACOC team at the suspect’s hideout uncovered substances suspected to be narcotic drugs. Field tests conducted on the suspected substance proved positive for cocaine and heroin, both narcotic drugs. The suspected narcotic substances, with a total weight of about 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, are estimated at a street value of US$2.1 Million

“The suspect, Uchechukwu Chima who has been a target for NACOC for some time now, is noted to be the brain behind some seizures/arrests made by NACOC in the past. NACOC by this seizure and arrest, has taken this substantial quantity of drugs from the street, saving millions of lives of people who would have otherwise perished from abusing these hard drugs.

“NACOC remains committed to making Ghana an unprofitable destination for drug trafficking and thus protecting the safety and well-being of all Ghanaians and the international community.”