NACOC Arrests 10 KTU Students for Cannabis-Infused Products and Court Remands Pastor for Romance Scams

Law enforcement agencies in Ghana and abroad have secured a series of arrests and legal rulings targeting narcotics distribution, romance scams, and financial fraud. In Ghana, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the police service have intensified efforts to curb illegal activities ranging from student-led drug operations to the exploitation of women through digital blackmail. These developments reflect a concerted push by judicial authorities to uphold public safety and fiscal integrity across multiple sectors. At Koforidua Technical University (KTU), NACOC officers apprehended ten students for allegedly manufacturing and selling cannabis-infused beverages and ice creams. The intelligence-led operation took place during the university’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Hall Week celebrations. This arrest has sparked concerns regarding the infiltration of narcotics into campus social events, with officials signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward the commercialization of illegal substances in educational institutions. In the digital and social sphere, the Ghana Police Service has arrested Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, a self-acclaimed pastor, for his alleged involvement in extensive romance scams. Kwarteng is accused of defrauding several women under the guise of marriage proposals and subsequently blackmailing them with intimate images shared without consent. Meanwhile, the District Court at Asofan has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mark Benyin. Benyin faces charges of unlawful entry and unauthorized interference with an electronic record, with Magistrate Jehoshaphat A. Nyarko ordering the publication of his identity to facilitate his capture. Internationally, the legal system has also addressed extreme cases of benefit fraud. Christopher Phillips, 60, was sentenced to over two years in prison after authorities discovered his 89-year-old mother’s body in a chest freezer at their home in Porthcawl, Bridgend County. Phillips reportedly kept the body hidden for nearly three years to continue collecting her pension and benefits. Whether dealing with local campus drug trades or international financial deception, these cases highlight the diverse challenges faced by law enforcement and the judiciary in protecting the public from exploitation and harm.