Monitoring operations yielding positive results

The effective monitoring operations by the National Security at Tema port and CEPS taskforce yielded over 92 million cedis as revenue which otherwise would have gone into the drain.

The CEPS Special Operations Unit (SOU) was able to intercept a container stocked with 4,800 cartons of sardines that had falsely declared 26 tins in one carton.

When the container was intercepted by the SOU, they discovered that Ox-Boat Shipping and Clearing Company, which cleared the imported items had declared that each carton contained 26 tins of sardines and that was what the clearing documents that passed through customs computers stated and was used to access duties.

However, when the SOU opened the cartons outside the gate, they found that each (carton) contained 72 tins.

When customs duties were worked on the excess items, the company had dodged revenue of 32,484,408 million cedis.

When Ghana News Agency contacted Mr W.K. Ankrah, Assistant Commissioner of Customs Long room, he confirmed the story and explained that a 100 percent penalty was slapped on the importer, who had to pay 64,968,816 million cedis.

In another development, a source close to the National Security at the port also revealed that an importer cleared his goods, which included TVs, decks, amplifiers and radio cassette players under exemption.

However, when the National Security at the port intercepted the container, and his passport was checked, it was found that he did not qualify for exemption, because he stayed outside for only three months, instead of 18 months being the qualification period.

According to Mr Ankrah, the importer was asked to pay 28 million cedis penalty for short collection after the re-examination. This is among other three interceptions that are being investigated by the National Security at the port.