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Smuggled wax prints smuggled in bags
full of crabs
Aflao, July 24, GNA- The Anti-Smuggling Taskforce of the
Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Aflao has
intercepted a truck near Sogakope with 1,008 wax prints
concealed in raffia bags loaded with crabs.
Other wax prints were also discovered in baskets covered
with discarded fishing nets to create the impression that
they contained fish.
The value of the wax prints was estimated at about GH¢160,000
(1.6 billion cedis).
Mr Jonathan Boateng, Chief Collector, told the Ghana News
Agency (GNA) that upon a tip off that a KIA Pick up was
being loaded with smuggled goods at Anyanui near Keta last
Wednesday, the team went into ambush at a spot on the
Keta-Dabala road.
He said at about 0130 hours on Thursday, the team spotted
the truck with registration number ER 6729 C carrying raffia
mats, onions and raffia bags containing fish, lobster and
crabs.
Mr Boateng said when his men signalled the driver to stop he
ignored them and instead diverted onto a rough road along
the Volta River off Dabala towards Sogakope.
He said amidst firing of warning shots, the vehicle was
pursued until it stopped at a spot with all its occupants
including the driver jumping down and absconding.
He said on examination, the wax prints were found concealed
in the raffia bags covered with crabs.
Mr Boateng said while on their way to Aflao, the team also
intercepted at Torkor, near Denu a Togolese registered
Yamaha motorbike carrying 35 pieces of wax prints towards
Agbozume.
He said no one had yet claimed ownership of the seized wax
prints, but one Madam Peace Seglah, a Koforidua based trader
has claimed ownership of part of the raffia mat, onions and
lobsters on the vehicle Mr Boateng said madam Seglah claimed
that she and other traders handed over their goods to the
driver at Anyanui market on Wednesday while they went ahead
on board another passenger vehicle to Koforidua.
Madam Seglah said they were waiting for the vehicle with the
goods at Koforidua when they had information that it had
been intercepted with wax prints.
He said Madam Seglah's goods had since been handed over to
her.
GNA
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