The Customs,
Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in the Northern Region of Ghana has
intercepted and impounded two trucks loaded with 150 drums of a chemical
compound suspected be ethanol on the Nanton-Tamale road.
The goods which were loaded from Bolgatanga market
according to the CEPS officials who interrogated the drivers of the two vehicles
were bound for a destination somewhere in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Briefing journalists on the seized goods at the
Northern Regional Command Headquarters of CEPS, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Okoh
Appiah, said the two trucks loaded with the drums of ethanol had been sent to
the Regional Office of the Bureau of National Investigations pending further
investigations.
“We suspect the seized goods to be ethanol, a chemical
product used by breweries. But its wholesomeness is what we doubt. So we have
taken samples of them to CEPS laboratory in Accra for testing and confirmation.
If it proves finally that it is ethanol and wholesome for consumption then we
will move to the next step.
“Talking about the next step, the goods currently do
not have any documents covering their importation. And if there are no official
documents covering their importation, then that means they were illegally
imported into the country and the owner who is yet to report herself to us is
likely to pay a revenue duty of about GH₵100,000.00”,
he explained.
Dr. Appiah appealed to the general public to assist
his officers to enable government realizes its revenue targets so that the
needed development could also be achieved. “The public shouldn’t attempt to
take advantage of the porous nature of our borders and smuggle in goods which
they don’t pay duty on.
“We’re very alert and if we don’t catch you entering
the country with contraband goods through the unapproved routes we will
definitely catch you on your way to the market or in the market”, he urged.
No comments:
Post a Comment