Authorities in the Northern Region have intercepted a substantial quantity of restricted goods, including illicit cigarettes and controlled pharmaceuticals, following a targeted operation by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The seized items, including 450 boxes of Business Royal Cigarettes and five boxes of Tapentadol tablets, were intercepted along the Nanton-Gushegu road on February 11, 2025, with an estimated duty value of GH¢20.6 million.
Acting on a tip-off about a vehicle transporting illegal goods, a customs task force set up a checkpoint on the Gaha-Gushegu road. However, a vehicle with registration number GS 7592-13 ignored the checkpoint and sped past, prompting a pursuit. When intercepted, the driver refused to disclose the cargo’s contents, insisting only the owner could provide details. Shortly after, the supposed owner arrived on a motorbike but also declined to comment.
The vehicle was taken to the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters for further inspection. The driver and owner were summoned for an official cargo examination the following day but failed to show up. Upon a subsequent search on February 19, officials confirmed the vehicle was carrying highly restricted goods requiring proper import permits. With no valid authorization, the items were officially seized under Notice of Seizure Number 248806 on February 25, 2025.
Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo, Commissioner of Customs, later visited the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters to assess the situation. He emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling the smuggling of illicit goods. “We’ve intensified efforts with National Security, the Narcotics Control Commission, and other agencies to curb this menace, even if much of the work goes unnoticed,” he told Citi News.
Despite increasing enforcement efforts, illicit drugs continue to flood Ghana’s markets, fueling concerns about substance abuse among the youth. Customs officials have vowed to tighten surveillance at ports and borders to disrupt smuggling networks.
The case has been handed over to the Narcotics Control Commission for further investigation, with legal action expected against those involved in the illegal trade.
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