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A large quantity of substandard and counterfeit goods have been destroyed by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the Dompoase landfill site in Kumasi. The confiscated products, which included 144 boxes of Gold Seal cigarettes and quantities of assorted drugs alleged to be substandard, were estimated at GHC773,382. Some of the products were also seized at the Parcel Office of the Ghana Post at Adum in Kumasi. The exercise was supervised by officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Ghana Police Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). Briefing journalists before the goods were burnt, the Chief Revenue Officer of CEPS, Mr Stanley Essuman�Mensah, said some of the products were smuggled into the country through unapproved routes. Products Mr Essuman�Mensah said the cigarettes, which were counterfeit products, were not meant to be sold in the country, while the substandard drugs were believed to have been smuggled into the country through unapproved routes. He expressed grave concern over the use of unapproved routes to import products into the country, adding that such practices undermined effective revenue generation to support socio-economic development. Warning Mr Essuman�Mensah warned that products brought into the country through unapproved routes would be seized and, therefore, advised the business community not to engage in such practices.Rather, he advised the business community to acquire licences and secure the necessary permits before importing products for the local market. �Some products imported into the country are also not allowed to be sold here. Therefore, it is important for importers to be mindful of such products to avoid a situation where their goods would be seized and destroyed� he warned.