Smuggled Goods Stashed In Vegetable Oil Gallons Intercepted

Officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Aflao have intercepted six trucks from Lome, Togo heading for the Central Region with smuggled goods stashed in vegetable oil gallons. The six drivers in charge of the trucks, and 24 traders who claimed ownership of the goods are assisting with investigations. Mr Seth Dovlo, Commander In charge of the Aflao Customs Division Sector told the Ghana News Agency that the trucks regularly transports locally produced cooking oil from the Region to Togo and Benin and return with empty gallons. He said upon a tip-off, officers of the Division at about 1930 hours last Saturday, September 17, chased the trucks, which entered the country from Lome through Akanu, and succeeded in intercepting three of them at a village between Tadzewu and Akatsi while the other three escaped. He said the Division�s operational duty point at Dabala was signalled and managed to intercept the three other trucks. Mr Dovlo said upon examination 165 gallons of 25 kilograms (kg) of imported vegetable oil, 112 sacks of bath room slippers and ladies footwear, 160 crates of assorted canned drinks, 66 bags of 50kg sugar and other items concealed were found on the trucks. Mr Dovlo put the value of the goods seized at about GH?24,601 and duty liable at about GH?1,000. He said a punitive penalty including 300 per cent duty would be paid on the impounded goods.