CEPS arrest fertilizer smugglers at Bawku

Mr Abdulai Musah, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive has cautioned fertilizer smugglers to stop abusing government subsidy on fertilizers otherwise the law would continue to punish them for such negative practice.

The MCE gave the warning in Bawku when the Customs, Excise and Prevention Service (CEPS) arrested a foreign registered truck with number, XD148LSD, carrying 695 bags of fertilizers alleged to have been heading towards Burkina Faso where the commodity is said to be in high demand.

Briefing the media at Bawku, the MCE said there had been rampant smuggling of fertilizers in the area across the border where the product is sold at double the subsidised price and indicated that a couple of weeks ago one Fuseini Alhassan was arrested with 120 bags of fertilizers and put before court where he was fined GH¢1,200.

He said the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) tried to arrest a man with 30 bags who escaped, while another one was arrested with 164 bags at Garu.

Also, 695 bags of fertilizers loaded in a truck with foreign number XD148LSD was arrested by CEPS at night, bringing all to a total of 1,500 bags so far arrested, the MCE stated.

“The Bawku Municipal Security Council (BMSEC) will continue to arrest and prosecute those unpatriotic citizens who want to undermine a very good initiative such as the fertilizer subsidy for farmers”, he warned.

He said the BMUSEC had earlier held a meeting and put up a lot of strategies which included getting a permit from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), reporting to the desk officer of MOFA and regulating the number of fertilizer bags to be bought by one person.

Mr Theophilus  Ahunu, a Senior tax Collector with the Bawku CEPS division, said his officers stopped the vehicle with the smuggled goods but it sped off towards Misiga, a border town.

He said his officers gave the vehicle a hot chase and finally arrested and brought it back. A search revealed that it was carrying smuggled fertilizers.

He said the driver whose name was not given, was being investigated and that the vehicle with the smuggled goods would be sent to the CEPS regional headquarters in Bolgatanga for further action.

He warned that CEPS would not relent in its effort at arresting such criminals and asked those who were fond of engaging in such crimes to put a stop to it.

Source: GNA