TWO ARTICULATOR trucks loaded with smuggled textiles have been impounded by Customs officials in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
The owner of the items wanted to smuggle the huge number of textiles into the country without paying the required tax to the state.
Customs officials, acting upon intelligence, tracked the movement of the trucks from the western corridor all the way to Akrofifi and impounded them.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Kwesi Ahiakpor, the Sector Commander, Kumasi Collection, Customs Division, said the arrest took place on Monday at 5: am.
He said one of the trucks was moved to the Customs premises at Amakom in Kumasi, whilst the other truck, which was faulty, was left behind under tight surveillance.
Assistant Commissioner Ahiakpor noted that some of his men stayed in the bush for 24 hours before the faulty truck could be repaired and moved to Kumasi.
He said three people, who claimed to be emissaries of the owner of the smuggled goods, initially popped up when the textiles were brought to the customs office.
Assistant Commissioner Ahiakpor noted that two of the men were made to act as agents of the owner as the textiles were offloaded, whilst the other one was sent to bring the real owner.
He disclosed that the real owner of the textiles finally reported at the customs office in Kumasi on Friday to also monitor the off-loading and other processes which would lead to the payment of the tax on the impounded goods.
Assistant Commissioner Ahiakpor said the textiles would be examined, followed by documentation and then valuation and assessment for the owner to pay the duty with penalty to the state.
He, however, could not give the exact amount the owner of the textiles would pay to the state.
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