Customs seize GH¢20.6m of illegal cigarettes and Tapentadol tablets in Tamale

Following an intelligence-led operation in the Northern Region, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has seized a significant quantity of restricted goods, including illicit cigarettes and controlled pharmaceutical products.

The seized items include 450 boxes of Business Royal Cigarettes, each containing 50 packets, and five boxes of Tapentadol tablets. The estimated duty for both products is valued at GH¢20.6 million.

The seizure occurred after customs officials received intelligence on February 11, 2025, about a vehicle transporting restricted items along the Nanton to Gushegu road. Acting on this tip-off, a task force from the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters set up a checkpoint on the Gaha to Gushegu road to intercept suspicious vehicles.

During the operation, a vehicle with registration number GS 7592-13 sped past the checkpoint without stopping, prompting a pursuit by the task force. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver refused to disclose details about its contents, insisting that only the owner could provide such information. Shortly after, the vehicle owner arrived on a motorbike but also declined to comment.

Despite resistance from the suspects, customs officers moved the vehicle to the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters for further inspection. The driver and owner were instructed to return for an official examination of the cargo on February 12, but they failed to appear.

A subsequent search of the vehicle on February 19, 2025, in the presence of officials, confirmed that it contained highly restricted goods requiring proper licensing and permits for importation. Since the driver and owner lacked the necessary authorization, the goods were seized under Notice of Seizure Number 248806 on February 25, 2025.

In response to the incident, Brigadier General Zibrim Bawah Ayorrogo, Commissioner of Customs, visited the Tamale Collection Regional Headquarters to gather firsthand information on the operation.

Speaking to Citi News, he stated that collaboration among state agencies, including National Security, the Narcotics Control Commission, and others, has been strengthened to curb the influx of illicit drugs. “We’ve done a lot of work to combat this menace, but because we don’t publicize it, the public remains unaware,” he said.

He further assured the public that, despite the complexity of the operations of the cartel involved, customs will intensify surveillance at ports and borders to tackle smuggling.

The case has now been handed over to the Narcotics Control Commission for further investigation. Authorities are expected to take legal action against those involved in the illegal transportation of these restricted goods.

Illicit drugs continue to flood Ghana’s open market despite ongoing enforcement efforts. The rising trend of drug abuse among the youth has become a growing concern for authorities and the public alike.