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The Ghana Navy has carried out a successful intelligence-led operation against illegal bunkering activities along the eastern coastline, leading to the seizure of large quantities of fuel and several modified canoes in the Volta Region.
According to a press release issued by the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, the operation was conducted on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by personnel from the Naval Base Nutekpor. The exercise targeted suspected illegal bunkering sites along the Abeliakorpe and Atokukorpe landing beaches in Aflao.
The coordinated raid, which took place between 5:00 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., resulted in the seizure of 162 gallons of 25-litre containers and 32 barrels of 200-litre containers filled with fuel. The items were retrieved from several stash houses and makeshift structures used by the suspected syndicates.
In a related operation on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Navy intercepted seven specially modified canoes, locally known as “Dendes,” along the Keta–Denu–Aflao coastline. The canoes, believed to have been engineered for fuel smuggling at sea, contained 378 empty barrels.
The perpetrators reportedly fled upon sighting a Navy ship, abandoning the canoes which were subsequently seized and towed to the Tema Harbour for further investigation.
The Ghana Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country’s maritime domain and combating illegal activities that threaten national security, marine biodiversity, and the sustainability of the blue economy.
The Navy further urged coastal communities to collaborate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities to help curb illicit operations along Ghana’s coastline.
