Last Thursday, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized some arms and ammunition at the Golden Jubilee Terminal in Tema.
Nine pistols, eight assault rifles, and 219 rounds of live ammunition were seized during a 40-footer container inspection.
The container was intended to hold personal things, such as clothing, shoes, home accessories, and television sets, brought from the US.
It also found 81 rounds of live ammo, two handcuffs, three binoculars, and cleaning supplies, according to a seizure notice
In order to further investigate the items, sources at the Customs Division were prohibited and so liable to seizure.
These products were not declared in the customs papers covering the other items, including a car that was in the stated container upon arrival, according to sources.
A consignee named Ebenezer Mireku Kissi was given as the owner’s name, with Tobitek Agency as the clearing agency.
Sources say the crew noticed a name, Melvin Quanteh, engraved on the barrel containing the weapons and ammo during the operation, but investigators have yet to confirm it, and the clearance agency will have to produce the owners.
A preliminary report on the intercept has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs, and that further investigations are underway to determine the true name of the consignee.
The materials were lodged to the port’s Customs State Warehouse.
The newest method of smuggling weaponry into the country is claimed to be hiding them among personal things by breaking them up and spreading them among several consignments.
While customs officials at the port declined to comment, inspectors found one or two arms in some consignments during a physical examination after the scanning systems at the port flagged them as ‘Red.’
Experts say terrorists may use shipping containers to carry chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons.
Importers benefit from the technique since it allows them to identify cargoes using the three primary color codes: red, yellow, and green.
Aweya and Commissioner Kwadwo Damoah (retd) did not respond to requests for comment.
This is not the first time officials have intercepted smuggled guns.
Three weapons were confiscated earlier in June at the Golden Jubilee Terminal of the Tema Port.
Officials say the guns were stashed in barrels with personal stuff.
On October 9, 2020, the GRA seized 436 pistols, 26 packs of 50 rounds of ammo, and 1 (40ml) pepper spray from a container arriving at the Tema Port.
On arrival at the Tema Port, the container was marked as ‘Red Channel’ and the hidden objects were discovered.
The commodities were brought into the country without Ministry of Interior authorization. They also hadn’t been declared to Customs.
Items were inventoried by personnel from the Preventive Unit (Intelligence & Examination Officer), the National Intelligence Bureau, Homeland Security, and the police.
All signatories, including the clearing agent, signed for the total confiscated.
A seizure notice was also sent to the clearing agent, and the seized package was turned over to Customs.
However, the GRA claimed that he was assisting the Tema Harbour Police Command in investigations.
Meanwhile, the Customs Division has assured the police that the results of its investigations into the forbidden commodities will be made public.
At the time, the GRA warned all importers that weapons and ammunition could only be imported with a Ministry of Interior licence and must be reported.
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