A joint overnight operation by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division and National Security has led to the interception of 12 articulated trucks loaded with assorted food products, in what officials describe as a significant case of suspected tax evasion.

The intelligence-led exercise was carried out between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, along the Dawhenya–Tema Road. It was undertaken by the Customs Division in collaboration with National Security’s Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce.

The operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations, with support from the Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Preventive operations at Tema Collection, alongside officers from Customs Headquarters and the Tema Collection Unit.

Breach of transit protocols


Preliminary findings indicate that the 12 intercepted trucks form part of a larger consignment of 18 vehicles that had already been electronically gated out of the Customs system. Although the goods were declared as transit cargo from the Akanu border post in the Volta Region to Niger via Kulungugu, the trucks were found operating without the mandatory Customs human escort, a clear violation of established transit procedures.

Following the interception, 11 of the trucks were escorted under heavy security to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Transit Terminal at Tema Port, where they were placed under tight Customs supervision with logistical support from the Authority. One truck developed a mechanical fault during the operation, and its cargo was safely transferred to another vehicle.

GH¢85 million tax exposure uncovered


Briefing journalists at the GPHA Transit Terminal, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister of Finance, revealed that the operation uncovered 44,055 packages of assorted goods, including edible cooking oil, spaghetti, and tomato paste.

While confirming that 12 trucks had been intercepted, he disclosed that only 11 had so far been fully secured, with six others still unaccounted for. Investigations are ongoing to trace the remaining vehicles and determine the full scope of the suspected scheme.

Mr. Ampem disclosed that an initial Customs valuation placed the tax liability at about GH¢2.6 million. However, a subsequent reassessment revised the figure sharply upwards to GH¢85,306,578.33, a discrepancy he described as deeply troubling.

“This is a huge revenue leakage, and we are taking it very seriously,” he said, adding that preliminary evidence points to deliberate attempts to circumvent state revenue systems.

He further noted that although the trucks were fitted with electronic tracking devices, the systems appeared to have been overridden, and establishing how this breach occurred would be a central focus of the investigations.

The Deputy Minister directed the Commissioner-General of the GRA to conclude investigations within one week, after which the public would be updated on the findings and any sanctions to be imposed.

Warning to traders and businesses


The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, reaffirmed that the Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce, working closely with National Security, would sustain similar enforcement operations nationwide.

He cautioned importers, exporters, and traders to comply strictly with Customs and tax regulations, stressing that while compliant businesses are partners in national development, those who seek to deprive the state of lawful revenue will face firm action.

Mr. Sarpong added that if investigations confirm improper documentation or fraudulent declarations, relevant confiscation laws will be applied, allowing the state to seize the goods and their proceeds as a deterrent.

He reaffirmed the Customs Division’s commitment to protecting public revenue and ensuring full compliance with Ghana’s tax and customs laws.