Ghana Revenue Authority destroys smuggled goods

The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the Upper East Region, at the weekend destroyed seized goods worth GH₵31,246.00.

They were seized from non-registered importers, who smuggled the goods into Ghana through the country’s frontiers.

The goods were 777 packages of 200 Rothmans, Malboro and Gold seal cigarettes, which should have attracted Cost Insurance Freight (CIF).

The others were 13 packages of assorted medicines, men and women aphrodisiacs from China and India that should have attracted CIF of GH₵ 3,111.00, two bails of used ladies panties that should have attracted CIF of GH₵ 10,914.00 and other miscellaneous items that should have attracted CIF of GH₵232.00.

Mr. Joseph Adu-Kyei, Sector Commander, Upper East Region branch of GRA, told journalists that the goods were seized from smugglers.

He said they  smuggled the goods from Togo and Burkina Faso to Ghana through entry points at Kolungugu, Zebila, Paga , Polunmakoum, Misiga, and Mognore.

He said the laws of Ghana prohibits the importation of pharmaceuticals by land like those that came from Togo and Burkina Faso, and explained that it was illegal to import them without permit from the Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standard Authority.

Mr Adu-Kyei said that some of the seized goods could be substandard and Ghana could not guarantee their wholesomeness.

He said the Upper East sector of GRA revenue target for April and June was GH ₵ 2,629.00 but due to smuggling the Authority realized GHc 1,376,869.23 with a shortfall of GH₵ 1,252,150,37.

Mr Adu-Kyei advised importers to respect Ghana’s trade laws, and said security personnel would intensify their operations to check smuggling.

Source: GNA