Keta: The Ghana Navy has successfully intercepted a significant illegal fuel bunkering operation along the Keta-Denu-Aflao coastline in the Volta Region. The operation, which took place on January 15, 2026, was the result of an intelligence-driven maritime security patrol in the Eastern Corridor, leading to the interception of seven modified canoes engaged in illicit fuel transfer activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Commodore Solomon Asiedu-Larbi, provided details about the interception during a press briefing. He noted that the specially constructed canoes, locally referred to as 'Dendes,' were equipped with approximately 378 empty barrels designed for smuggling fuel at sea. Commodore Asiedu-Larbi highlighted that the design and configuration of these canoes indicated their use in organized illegal fuel bunkering operations.
The Commodore commended the naval crew for their vigilance and professionalism, reaffirming the Ghana Navy's dedication to combating fuel bunkering, illegal fishing, smuggling, and other transnational maritime crimes. He further revealed that, under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, additional maritime resources were being deployed to enhance surveillance efforts.
Commander James Dzigbordzi Agrah, Command Operations Officer at ENC, explained that the seized canoes were towed to the harbor after the operators fled upon noticing the Navy ship. He described how fuel bunkering syndicates typically utilize larger 'mother vessels' offshore to transfer stolen fuel into smaller canoes, which are then used for smuggling to coastal landing sites. Commander Agrah pointed out that such practices result in revenue losses through tax evasion, fuel adulteration, and environmental damage, threatening marine ecosystems.
Commodore Asiedu-Larbi also announced plans for intensified community awareness programs, the deployment of unmanned aerial systems, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders to dismantle such illegal networks. He encouraged coastal communities to report any suspicious activities, assuring them of the Ghana Navy's commitment to securing the nation's maritime domain and supporting the blue economy.