6 Busted For Container Diversion

The arrested suspects

THE TEMA Regional Railways and Ports Headquarters is investigating the circumstances under which some persons allegedly diverted seven refrigerated containers of frozen fishes meant for Burkina Faso to some cold stores in Tema for sale.

The suspects whose names were given as Awal Alhassan, Frank Opoku, Nicolas Ocran Iddrisu Mohammed and Inusah Boniface were said to have diverted the 40-footer reefer containers fully loaded with fishes from the Reefer Yard at the Tema Port to some cold stores around the Tema Fishing Harbour.

Briefing journalists, the Commissioner of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Isaac Crentsil, explained that a self-styled agent managed to fortify documents to clear the high-duty containers from the Reefer Yard to be transported to Burkina Faso.

However, he said the goods did not reach their destination as the suspects, upon reaching a section of the road in Accra, removed the tracking devices fixed on the containers and redirected the cargoes to some cold stores in Tema, taking only the devices to Burkina Faso.

According to him, the suspects returned the tracking devices through a public transport but they were arrested upon the arrival of the devices at the Neoplan Transport Terminal in Accra.

He indicated that intelligence led to the retrieval of the frozen containers and the eventual arrest of six suspects. A manhunt has been initiated for the arrest of the self-styled agent and importer who are currently on the run.

The customs boss noted that the suspects had been handed over to the police, adding that the articulator trucks used for the operations had also been impounded, pending further investigations.

He further stated that the high-duty goods which have description under the transit category meant that the goods are not for local consumption and, therefore, cannot go under the examinable policy, but the suspects have managed to divert them into the country.

According to him, the division had in recent times observed that the smuggling of high-duty and excised goods was on the ascendancy with similar arrests made recently.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema

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