National Security grabs smugglers at Kotoka Airport with US$1 million gold

A crack team of operatives from the ITF Unit of National Security, has arrested a popular gold dealer and his accomplices, suspected to be part of gold smuggling syndicate trafficking Ghana's precious mineral resource outside the country on the blind side of the state with the aim of evading tax. They reported smuggling large amounts of gold bars out of the country on Friday, October 9, 2020. It is unclear, which country the gold, which weighed 14.4kg with an estimated street value of about $1million dollars, was being transported to, but many suspect Dubai in the UAE to be the ultimate destination. According to sources, the four suspects are all Ghanaian nationals and are currently in the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) custody in Accra, assisting with further investigations. It is unclear how the gang managed to outwit security arrangements at the airport which is supposed to be rigorous. It's also unclear if National Security will pick up other conspirators. This is the second time the National Security's ITF Unit, has rounded up a gold smuggling syndicate in a space of three weeks. The first arrest, as reported by The Herald was made at the border town of Aflao in the Volta Region. They have been sending out large amounts of gold bars out of Ghana through the Aflao border, in what appeared to be a long running illegal business that denies the state the needed revenue. The cartel, including Ghanaians and foreigners from neighbouring countries, in partnership with their Indian financiers, have been behind the smuggling of Ghana's precious mineral resources in huge volumes using Togo. The Herald's information is that they have some political and security backing in their illegal business, which is making Ghana lose millions of US dollars by way of revenue. But on that fateful Wednesday, luck eluded some of them, when the National Security's ITF Unit upon a tipoff, stormed the Aflao and arrested them, while in the act, smuggling yet another 15 kilogrammes of gold out of the country. Numbering about four, they claimed they are Malian nationals, but living in Aflao. Details, as well as the identities of the suspects are sketchy. They were using two vehicles; one Toyota Corolla and Toyota Caravan. The Herald's correspondent at Aflao, who witnessed the arrest and the seizure of the gold believed to be in the region of GH¢5 million, reported that the suspects, were sent to Accra for further investigations. You can also watch this episode of People & Places on GhanaWeb TV: AE