Police intercept ambulance transporting narcotics at Labadi

Police in Accra have intercepted a private ambulance allegedly transporting narcotics at Labadi, in what they describe as a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking.

According to the Accra Regional Police Command, the operation that led to the interception of the private ambulance at Labadi was based on sustained surveillance. Police say the vehicle, which had been disguised as an ambulance, was being used to convey narcotics into the capital.

The police at Labadi confirmed that the Hyundai Hiace ambulance was carrying sacks of dried leaves suspected to be narcotics. A 39-year-old man, Kwame Mananyi Tuanda, was arrested on the spot after claiming ownership of both the private ambulance and the suspected drugs.

Investigations later revealed that the consignment had been moved from Kpando in the Volta North Region to Accra for onward distribution. Officers discovered 700 parcels and 473 wrappers of dried leaves believed to be cannabis concealed in the ambulance.

Police say Tuanda admitted to running the illegal trade since 2024, initially using a Toyota Highlander before acquiring the Hyundai Hiace and branding it as a private ambulance with a siren. The vehicle, they added, had also been used to transport dead bodies on some occasions.

The ambulance has since been impounded, and the seized items will be forwarded to the Police Forensic Science Laboratory for testing. Tuanda is being processed for court while investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the Accra Regional Police Command has warned against the misuse of legitimate service vehicles for criminal purposes and pledged to intensify efforts against narcotics trafficking in Labadi and beyond.