Nine public officers have been arrested in connection with the interception of undeclared Tramadol at Tema Port, following a major anti-smuggling operation by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
According to a press release issued by the Ghana Revenue Authority, the arrests include five Customs officers, one officer from the Narcotics Control Commission, one Port Security officer, one Energy Commission officer and one Standards Authority officer. All nine suspects have been placed under Police inquiry bail as investigations continue.
The arrests stem from the seizure of a container carrying 299 cartons containing 146,932,000 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride in 250mg and 225mg doses, with a total weight of 34,847.2 kilogrammes. Authorities described the consignment as a massive haul with serious public health and security implications.
Intelligence-Led Operation
The seizure was triggered by intelligence received by the Preventive wing of the Customs Division. Container number TGHU6228715, cleared under Bill of Entry 40226151187, was detained on February 26, 2026 and moved to a Customs-controlled area in Tema for further scrutiny.
Although the shipment, which originated from the United Arab Emirates, had been declared as household items such as water kettles, kitchen blenders, pressing irons, energy-saving bulbs and polypropylene materials, a joint re-examination on March 1, 2026 revealed substantial discrepancies.
Customs officers, working alongside the Central Revenue Monitoring Team, uncovered large quantities of concealed and undeclared Tramadol tablets hidden within the container in addition to some of the listed goods.
The importer and declarant have since been handed over to the Police to assist with ongoing investigations, while the seized consignment remains under Customs control.
The Ghana Revenue Authority reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security and protecting public health, stating that it remains resolute in preserving the integrity of Ghana’s revenue and border management systems.
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