BY Grace Zigah
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has dealt a major blow to cross-border smuggling operations after intercepting 12 articulated trucks loaded with edible cooking oil, tomato paste, and spaghetti along the Dawhenya–Tema Road in a coordinated enforcement operation early Thursday morning.
The seizure, officials say, could protect over GH¢85 million in taxes for the state.
The operation, which took place between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., was led by the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, with support from the Chief Revenue Officer for Preventive Services at Tema Collection, the Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce of the National Security, and enforcement officers from both the Tema Collection office and Customs Headquarters.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the 12 trucks are part of a larger consignment of 18 vehicles that had been electronically cleared in the Customs system as transit goods.
The trucks were purportedly transporting goods from Akanu to Niger via Kulungugu.
However, they were moving without the legally required Customs human escort, constituting a serious breach of Ghana’s transit regulations.
Authorities revealed that the seized trucks contained 44,055 packages of imported cooking oil, tomato paste, and spaghetti. Eleven of the trucks have been securely stationed at the GPHA Transit Terminal under strict Customs supervision, with logistical support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
One vehicle developed a mechanical fault during the operation, prompting the transfer of its contents to another truck to ensure the goods were secured.
Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, commended the enforcement team, noting the high potential revenue loss that could have arisen if the smuggling had gone undetected.
“We take these breaches very seriously because of the substantial impact on our national revenue,” he said, adding that the six outstanding trucks remain under investigation.
Ampem further disclosed that two Customs officers implicated in the breach are being tracked, and he has directed the Commissioner-General of GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, to conclude investigations within a week. “We are determined to enforce compliance and ensure that those involved are held accountable,” he stated.
Commissioner-General Sarpong emphasized that businesses and individuals must strictly adhere to Customs laws.
“We will apply the full rigours of the law, including confiscation of goods, against anyone found culpable. The state will not tolerate actions that deny it much-needed revenue,” he warned.
This interception forms part of a wider effort by GRA and allied security agencies to clamp down on smuggling activities in Ghana, which have historically undermined national revenue and destabilized local markets. Previous operations have similarly uncovered attempts to bypass Customs procedures, particularly along major trade routes such as Tema, Akosombo, and Aflao.
The Ministry of Finance and the GRA have urged importers, transporters, and traders to strictly comply with all Customs regulations to avoid severe legal consequences and protect the economic interests.
