NACOC chief urges African states to cooperate operationally against synthetic drugs and cocaine trafficking

# Overview

# The problem he described

Mantey said contemporary trafficking networks are increasingly sophisticated and move synthetic drug precursors, cocaine and illicit financial flows through multiple countries. Those networks exploit differences and gaps between national jurisdictions, weakening the effectiveness of enforcement that remains confined to single-country responses.

He framed cooperation not as diplomatic rhetoric but as an operational prerequisite: intelligence gathered in one country must quickly be actioned by authorities in neighbouring or transit states if investigations are to succeed.

# Practical measures proposed

Mantey identified specific operational steps that can be implemented between neighbouring states and scaled regionally:

• Rapid intelligence sharing across borders to support ongoing investigations.
• Joint patrols in border areas and maritime zones to interdict shipments and movements.
• Coordinated investigations that pool resources, forensic capacity and legal tools.
• Integrated border-management arrangements to close enforcement gaps at ports, airports and land crossings.

He recommended starting with strengthened cooperation among neighbouring countries as a pragmatic foundation for wider regional arrangements.

# Examples and context cited by Ghana

Ghana cited existing bilateral cooperation with its neighbours and highlighted collaboration between The Gambia and Senegal as examples of direct, neighbour-to-neighbour action that can be built on for broader regional work.

Mantey also referenced a high-level dialogue held in Accra in November 2025 that examined future drug markets in West Africa. That discussion connected synthetic drugs, cocaine trafficking and illicit financial flows and raised concerns about increased exposure of young people to synthetic substances and the corrosive effect of criminal money on governance.

# Calls for results, not promises

A central point of Mantey's statement was the need for cooperation that produces measurable outcomes. He urged African drug enforcement agencies to focus on operations and information-sharing that lead to disruption and dismantling of trafficking networks, rather than agreements that stop at declarations.

Ghana committed to strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships and to working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other member states. Mantey said he expected to report progress at the 34th HONLEA meeting rather than additional promises.

# Immediate and near-term implications

If neighbouring states adopt the measures Mantey suggested, priorities will include setting fast channels for cross-border intelligence, arranging joint field operations, harmonising procedures for evidence sharing and tightening border-management practices at ports and airports. Implementing these steps will require political buy-in, resourcing, legal frameworks for mutual assistance and operational trust between agencies.

# Bottom line

African counterparts was operational: close the practical gaps that traffickers exploit by sharing intelligence rapidly, conducting joint operations and formalising neighbour-to-neighbour enforcement arrangements. Ghana has signalled a willingness to lead cooperation and to report concrete progress at the next HONLEA meeting.