In the Northern Region, the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Customs Division has seized illegal cigarettes, tapetadol, and other contraband.
Following an intelligence-driven sweep by the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division along the Nanton-Gushegu road in the Northern Region, the illegal commodities were intercepted.
Five boxes of Tapentadol tablets and 450 packs of Business Royal Cigarettes totaling GH¢20.6 million were among the illegal products.
When customs officers ordered the vehicle carrying the unlawful goods, registered under the license plate GS 7592-13, to stop at the Gaha-Gushegu road checkpoint, the vehicle refused, raising suspicions that the vehicle was transporting illegal products.
As a result, the customs officers followed the moving car and stopped the one carrying the items.
When questioned, the driver stated that he was unable to reveal the commodities being delivered because the vehicle’s owner had the paperwork for them.
As a result, the products and the car were moved to the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters for additional examination. The driver was told to accompany the vehicle’s owner the following day for inspection, but none of them showed up.
The vehicle was searched by customs officers when the owner and driver failed to appear, and it was found to contain illicit goods. Documentation was then obtained, and the products were seized.
During his visit to the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters, Commissioner of Customs Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo praised the officials for their prompt action in stopping the vehicle and urged ongoing cooperation between government agencies to stop the smuggling of illicit goods.
“We have intensified efforts with National Security, the Narcotics Control Commission, and other agencies to curb this menace, even if much of the work goes unnoticed,” he said. His comments brought to light the continuous difficulties customs officers encounter in their efforts to combat smuggling.
However, he promised that they would keep bolstering their intelligence at the ports and borders to make sure that the threat of illegal items is significantly diminished.
Since then, the Narcotics Control Commission has taken over the case to make sure the offenders face legal action.
Source: newsthemegh.com