Ghana Navy intercepts fuel smuggling canoes in Volta coast patrol

The Ghana Navy has disrupted a major illegal fuel bunkering operation along the Keta–Denu–Aflao coastline in the Volta Region following an intelligence-led maritime patrol conducted on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on the same day, the operation led to the interception of seven specially modified canoes believed to be used for large-scale fuel smuggling at sea.

Addressing the media at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), the Flag Officer Commanding, Commodore Solomon Asiedu-Larbi, said sailors onboard a Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) detected and intercepted the canoes during the patrol. The canoes, locally known as “Dendes,” were found to contain about 378 empty barrels, an indication that they were purpose-built for fuel bunkering activities.

Providing further details, the Command Operations Officer at the ENC, Commander James Dzigbordzi Agrah, explained that fuel bunkering syndicates typically operate using large “mother vessels” stationed offshore. According to him, stolen fuel is offloaded from these vessels onto smaller canoes, which then transport the fuel to coastal landing sites for onward distribution.

Commander Agrah added that the suspects fled upon sighting the naval patrol vessel, abandoning the canoes. The seized vessels were subsequently towed to the harbour for further action.

He warned that illegal fuel bunkering results in significant revenue losses to the state through tax evasion, contaminates local markets with adulterated fuel, and causes environmental pollution through fuel spills, posing serious threats to marine ecosystems and fish stocks.

The Ghana Navy has therefore called on coastal communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious maritime activities, stressing that cooperation is essential to safeguarding national security, protecting marine biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainability of Ghana’s blue economy.