Traders in smuggled goods to be arrested at point of sale

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - A Special Taskforce, including Military personnel, is being given appropriate orientation to embark on an exercise to arrest and prosecute traders, who sell smuggled textile prints in the country's markets.

A release signed by the Executive Secretary of Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, on Thursday, said this formed part of measures aimed at enforcing existing Customs regulations and in some situations introduce additional steps to enhance the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service's (CEPS') performance and capacity to generate more revenue.

It said the measures include intensification of patrols at known and suspected smuggling routes; physical search of commercial and non-commercial vehicles plying on specific route notorious for smuggling; arrest and prosecution of traders peddling smuggled goods and point of sale checks on textile prints in the markets.

The release said the decisions were arrived at after a meeting the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo held with Frontier Commanders and Deputy Commanders of CEPS and the Executive Secretary of RAGB on Wednesday.

The emergency meeting had been convened to enable the Commanders to strategise on measures to combat the rising spate of smuggling of textile prints, cigarettes and food and beverages from across the country's borders.

The release said Mr Osafo-Maafo also deplored the high rate of violation of existing foreign exchange regulations leading to huge amounts of foreign exchange being taken away by traders and other travellers.

He called on the CEPS and other security personnel charged to enforce those regulations to be up and doing.

The Minister appealed to the public to help by passing vital information on smugglers and their collaborators to the Ministry, RAGB and the revenue agencies.

He gave the assurance that the identity of prospective informants would be strictly protected.

"A special account to be funded by proceeds from penalties to be levied on arrested duty evaders and a percentage of CEPS revenue is being created at the Bank of Ghana for purposes of paying informants awards."

Mr Osafo-Maafo advised those trading in goods originating from neighbouring countries to ensure that such goods were covered by appropriate Custom documents to avoid the risk of confiscation and prosecution before the courts.