It was meant to be a week of celebration, music, camaraderie, and school pride. But for ten students of Koforidua Technical University, the SRC Hall Week festivities ended not with applause, but with handcuffs.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has confirmed the arrest of ten students, including a 23-year-old woman identified as the suspected ringleader, Priscilla Tetteh, for allegedly trafficking cannabis-infused drinks and ice creams during the event.
The operation, which spanned July 31 to August 1, 2026, pulled back the curtain on what authorities describe as a sophisticated student-run distribution network hiding in plain sight.
According to NACOC intelligence officers, the suspects weren’t operating in dark alleys or dingy dorm rooms. They were serving their illicit products openly, at a school-sanctioned event, surrounded by hundreds of unsuspecting peers.
“It was alarming,” a senior NACOC official involved in the operation told our reporters.
“These were not street peddlers. They were students, using their entrepreneurial skills to build a customer base among their own colleagues, all while masquerading as part of the entertainment.”
The raid is the latest in a series of operations targeting a disturbing new wave of drug abuse in Ghana’s tertiary institutions: cannabis-infused edibles. Unlike traditional narcotics, these products, often packaged as colorful drinks or tempting ice cream, are easily disguised and dangerously appealing to young people.
NACOC has expressed deep concern that students are increasingly commercializing narcotics under the guise of “hustle culture,” turning campuses into testing grounds for illegal enterprises.
“These products are not harmless party favors. They contain controlled substances with unpredictable potency,” the Commission warned in a subsequent statement.
“What we are seeing is a public health crisis in its early stages, and we are determined to cut it off before it spreads further.”
The operation was triggered by weeks of surveillance following tip-offs from concerned students and staff. On the night of the bust, operatives moved in swiftly, apprehending Tetteh and nine other young men while they were actively distributing the products to patrons.
The suspects are now in NACOC custody and will face prosecution, with the ringleader potentially facing more severe charges.
For the university community, the arrests have been met with a mix of shock and relief.
“It’s heartbreaking because these are young people with futures,” one final-year student, who asked not to be named, shared. “But at the same time, we can’t pretend this wasn’t happening. Everyone knew something was off. We’re glad NACOC stepped in.”
The Commission has seized the opportunity to issue a stark reminder: cannabis-infused foods and beverages remain illegal in Ghana, regardless of packaging or intent.
More importantly, they have called on parents, university authorities, and student leaders to take an active role in monitoring campus culture.
“Educational institutions must remain centres of learning and character development, not safe havens for drug trafficking,” NACOC reiterated.
As the suspects await processing and prosecution, the larger question lingers: how many other campuses are harboring similar operations, and who will sound the alarm next?
NACOC has promised intensified intelligence-led operations nationwide, urging the public to report suspicious activities. For now, the message is clear, whether it’s brownies, beverages, or ice cream, if it contains cannabis, it’s contraband, and the law will not look the other way.
