Drivers now refuse to carry smuggled goods.

Aflao, Feb. 7, GNA- Most commercial drivers plying the Aflao-Accra route are refusing to cart contraband and smuggled goods to any part of the country, a study carried out by the Ghana New Agency (GNA) has revealed.

Their refusal to indulge in such activities is due to an increase in anti-smuggling operations on the roads by the Police and the Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS), resulting in interceptions and impounding of vehicles conveying such goods.

The study was prompted by frustrations expressed by smugglers and the witnessing of outright shunning of smugglers by the roadside looking for carriers.

The study conducted between November 2006 to January this year, within which the GNA boarded 30 'floating' vehicles from Aflao to Sokpoe, a village beyond the Lower Volta bridge at Sogakope for observations.

Out of the 30 vehicles covered, 21 of them refused to carry such goods when they were stopped at various points along the route by the smugglers who managed to outwit the security at the main entry points or by underhand methods get their good into the country.

Mr Atsu Goka, a Driver, told the GNA that some vehicle owners, mindful of the heavy penalties to be suffered when caught, have cautioned their drivers against such business.

He said there were other drivers whose special areas of business was carrying smuggled goods and also vehicle owners who are smugglers and therefore would continue to indulge in carting the goods for themselves and other smugglers.

"Some drivers get involved in the night and periodically during the day after a reconnaissance report of safe passage' Mr Goka said. The GNA noticed that the entire Aflao and Denu township roads, Agbozume, Klikor junction, Dzrakate, a spot ahead of a police snap check point between Abor and Akatsi were the main transit points where smugglers drop their goods for onward carting, after outwitting the CEPS and other security personnel through the bush.

A spot opposite the District Assembly premises at Akatsi and others at Akakpokofe, Lakpo, Dabala-Junction are also converging points of the smugglers.

Sokpoe, in particular and other communities along the Volta River have been identified as smuggler friendly, where people make a vocation out of assisting these tax evaders to ferry goods across the lake. Records from the CEPS say more than 11 vehicles were impounded last year for smuggling.

Drivers the GNA spoke to who pleaded anonymity dreaded the plight of having one's vehicle intercepted with contraband good and seized. Some claimed they had to pay illegal fines to security personnel on the routes to get their vehicles released, which affects their businesses.

Mr Ben Suuri, a Chief Collector of CEPS, in charge of the Dabala Check Point who spoke to the GNA said it was good news that drivers were now refusing complicity in smuggling, but said CEPS would sustain its anti smuggling patrols.

"I am happy with your findings but we would avoid complacency until the practice is minimized," he said.

On options opened to CEPS with regards to vehicles caught carrying smuggled goods, Mr Suuri said carrier penalties could be calculated on value of goods being conveyed and slapped on the vehicle owner and the vehicle confiscated when payment was not effected within a specified period.

He said the Commissioner could also opt for a legal action to be taken on the vehicle owners.

Mr Suuri hinted that two speedboats had just been allocated to his outfit and soon patrols on the Volta River would re-start between Sogakope and Ada to discourage the use of the river by smugglers.