More Contraband Goods Intercepted

The Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo has called for thorough investigations into circumstances under which five Nigeriens managed to smuggle large quantities of assorted contraband goods from Aflao to the Western region without being arrested by security personnel at the various checkpoints along the road.

Personnel from the Western Regional office of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) last Sunday intercepted large quantities of assorted goods from the five Nigeriens who were onboard a 207 Benz bus with registration AS 5029 X at Shama near Takoradi after they detected that the goods were under-invoiced.

The names of the five arrested Nigeriens were given as Musa Idder, Munkaila Ibrahim, Mohammed Suley, Mustapha Hassan and Issah Abudu.

The Nigeriens claimed they purchased the goods from Togo and were traveling from Aflao to Ghana when they were arrested personnel of the BNI at a checkpoint at Shama.

Large quantities of locally designed wax prints with Chinese inscriptions, underwears for males and females, children�s attire as well as some electrical appliances were intercepted.

Speaking to the press in Sekondi, the regional minister could not fathom how the Nigeriens could bring those quantities of goods into the country without paying the right duty and managed to pass through the various security checkpoints.

He indicated that members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), including personnel of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), would conduct investigation into the matter so that the culprits, who allegedly aided the Nigeriens to smuggle the goods into the country, would be brought to book.

Speaking to CITY& BUSINESS GUIDE, the five suspects alleged that the charges at the country�s border posts are high.

They indicated that because of the high duty charges they always under-declare their goods to enable them get some money to give to security personnel at the various posts to aid them cross over.

Meanwhile, the five suspects are being held by the Regional BNI in Sekondi while investigations continue.

Source: Daily Guide Ghana