Five jailed for sale of unauthorized cigarettes

Accra, Sept 11, GNA- Five people were on Wednesday fined one million cedis each or in default serve a jail sentence of one year by an Accra Circuit Court for the sale of unauthorized cigarettes on the Ghanaian market.

According to Chief Superintendent Akua Afriyie of Accra South Divisional Crime Office, the police arrested the five people about two weeks ago following a tip-off by an anonymous person. She said the five people who were arrested at Tema station and Makola market were charged with smuggling and tax evasion. She said the five people during interrogations failed to tell the police the exact source of their supply but claimed they received them from some men who sold the cigarettes to them in packets. Chief Superintendent Afriyie said in Ghana, the only company, which had been licensed to produce and sell cigarettes on the market was British American Tobacco Company and that no other country or individual had the right to produce or sell cigarettes on the market. She said the five people who were arrested sold smuggled cigarettes, which were meant for the Togolese, Guinean and other West African markets.

The Chief Superintendent mentioned some of the cigarettes ceased as London Kingsize and Bond. She said a bench warrant had been issued for the arrest of two other people, David Agbemadokponu and John Dogbe who failed to appear before the court for the same offence. 12 Sept, 07