The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted goods valued at approximately GH₵3.6 million in two separate anti-smuggling operations at Tema and Aflao, preventing significant revenue losses to the state.

Briefing the media on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong said the first operation took place on 22 November within the Tema enclave, where four trucks transporting diverted goods were discovered in a concealed warehouse.

The trucks were loaded with more than 9,000 jerry cans of cooking oil falsely declared as transit goods destined for Burkina Faso.

“Transit goods are exempt from duties, and these items were intentionally misclassified to avoid tax obligations. The tracking devices on the trucks had also been tampered with, clearly showing an attempt to divert them onto the domestic market,” Mr Sarpong explained.

The duties assessed on the seized cooking oil amounted to GH₵1.9 million.

In a parallel enforcement effort, GRA officers stationed at the Aflao border intercepted several trucks suspected of transporting non-custom goods, including rice, sugar, tomato paste, beverages, textiles and clothing. The consignments were found to have been undervalued or wrongly declared.

“Duties on these items totaled GH₵1.7 million. Combined, the two operations prevented GH₵3.6 million in potential revenue loss,” the Commissioner-General said.

He confirmed that all confiscated goods have been placed under GRA custody pending formal disposal processes to recover the appropriate revenue. Truck owners whose vehicles were used in the evasion attempt will also face surcharges.

“The law permits us to sanction truck owners whose assets facilitate schemes that threaten state revenue,” he added.

Mr Sarpong warned that smuggling undermines fair trade, job creation and national development, urging traders and transporters to comply with customs regulations.

“If you smuggle and we arrest you, your goods will be confiscated and your capital lost to the state,” he cautioned.

He further disclosed that a similar enforcement exercise carried out last month resulted in recoveries amounting to GH₵4.6 million through seizures and arrests.