The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Tema has arrested some seven suspects – including two teenagers – who attempted to stow away to Europe.
The suspects – two Ghanaians and five Nigerians – were arrested in separate voyages, where they were hiding. It brings to nine the number of cases investigated by the GIS in the first half of this year.
The seven are currently in the grasp of the Tema Regional Ports and Railways Police Headquarters assisting in investigations.
The Tema Regional Commander of the GIS, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI), Ms. Belinda Adwoa Sika Anim, said the teenagers, who hail from Takoradi and Cape Coast in the Western and Central regions respectively, were intercepted aboard MSC Dymphia, a vessel from San-Pedro in Cote d’Ivoire to Antwerp in Belgium.
According to her, the teens were found midway to their journey when hiding in the engine compartment of the vessel during a routine inspection by the crew.
She revealed that the boys – 15 and 16 years of age – did not carry any travel documents. She said when the vessel landed in Antwerp, they were handed over to another bound for the Tema Port.
The Regional Commander said further checks showed that the pair boarded the vessel in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
She said the five Nigerians were arrested when they attempted to stow away from Tin Can Island Port in Nigeria to Europe on board two vessels, namely MV Zim Rio and CMA CGM Lapis.
However, the vessels docked at Tema Port and they were arrested. They were identified as Henry Okechuku, Jimmy Omorode, Nino Brown, Joseph Obasi and Hope Ekele.
The GIS is collaborating with the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana for the repatriation of the five Nigerians.
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