The Ghana Navy has successfully foiled a major illegal fuel bunkering operation along the Keta-Denu-Aflao coastline in the Volta Region on Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Sailors onboard GNS intercepted seven modified canoes suspected of illicit fuel bunkering during an intelligence-led maritime security patrol.
During a press briefing at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) ENC, Commodore Solomon Asiedu-Larbi, noted that the specially built canoes, locally known as “Dendes”, contained about 378 empty barrels, clearly engineered for the smuggling of fuel at sea, which emphasises their role in illicit activities.
Commodore Asiedu-Larbi praised the naval crew for their professionalism and vigilance, reiterating the Ghana Navy’s steadfast commitment to combating illegal fuel bunkering, as well as other threats such as unlawful fishing, smuggling and transnational maritime crimes.
Additionally, he disclosed that under the guidance of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, additional maritime assets are being deployed to enhance surveillance and rapid response in the Eastern Corridor.
ENC’s Command Operations Officer, Commander James Dzigbordzi Agrah, elaborated on the incident, explaining that the specially built canoes were seized and towed to the harbour after the perpetrators fled upon spotting the Navy Ship.
He described the typical tactics of fuel bunkering syndicates, where larger “mother vessels” at sea offload stolen fuel to smaller canoes for smuggling to coastal landing sites. This activity results in substantial revenue losses through tax evasion, contaminates markets with adulterated fuel and causes environmental pollution from spills that endanger marine ecosystems and fish populations.
The FOC announced strengthened initiatives, including intensified community awareness programs, the use of unmanned aerial systems and deeper collaboration with maritime stakeholders to dismantle these criminal networks.
The Ghana Navy remains dedicated to its mission of securing the nation’s maritime domain and urges coastal communities to report suspicious activities, thereby protecting national security, marine biodiversity and the sustainability of Ghana’s blue economy.
