Ghana Customs officials stationed at the Takoradi Port have successfully intercepted a significant shipment of suspected illegal drugs concealed within two 40-foot containers at the Atlantic Terminal Services Limited facility in Takoradi.
This seizure was the result of an intelligence-driven operation, initiated after frontline customs officers observed unusual packaging patterns during their routine inspections. Initially, the containers were declared to be transporting ceiling fans; however, the suspicious arrangement of the cargo led the officers to notify their superiors.
In response to the report, the Takoradi Sector Commander, Walter Blankson, instructed that the containers be placed under stringent surveillance to avert any potential interference. The containers were then completely unstuffed for a comprehensive examination.
The inspection was conducted with the assistance of various state agencies, including the Narcotics Control Commission, National Security, the National Intelligence Bureau, the Food and Drugs Authority, and the cargo declarant, Maxwell Boateng.
During the operation, officials discovered approximately 25 million tablets of suspected illicit Tapentadol and Timaking drugs concealed among cartons of ceiling fans. The inspection also uncovered thousands of undeclared electrical appliances.
The seized tablets have been secured, with samples collected by a Customs Chemist for laboratory analysis. The remaining items have been moved to the State Warehouse in Takoradi, where they will be stored pending further investigations.
Customs officials assert that this successful interception underscores the critical role of vigilant frontline officers and effective inter-agency collaboration in protecting Ghana’s borders from illicit trade and its related public health threats.
