The Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division has disposed of seized tobacco products from Pulmakom and Tamale, located in the Upper East and Northern Regions, respectively.
These products were apprehended for unlawfully entering the country and avoiding tax obligations, resulting in revenue loss for the nation.
In collaboration with military forces and other security agencies, the Customs Division convened in Tamale to carry out the disposal of the confiscated tobacco products.
The items, which were initially stored in a warehouse in Pulmakom, Upper East Region, were seized due to tax evasion allegations.
Georgina Lamisi Tibanye, the Sector Commander overseeing the Northern and North East Regions, shared insights into the operation.
She mentioned receiving intelligence from British-American Tobacco on September 5, 2023, which led to the discovery of the warehouse in the Upper East Region.
Subsequently, a joint team was formed to address the situation.
Transporting the seized tobacco products to the warehouse posed logistical challenges, and due to security concerns and potential risks, some items remain in storage pending further action.
Despite efforts, the perpetrators managed to evade capture upon the team’s arrival. However, ongoing investigations aim to identify and hold them accountable.
Tibanye highlighted the difficulty in apprehending carriers due to their negligence regarding the transported products.
Discussing the economic ramifications, Tibanye revealed a substantial tax loss of GHC 7,951,238.39 incurred by the GRA from the seized tobacco products.
She expressed concern over the broader impact of tax evasion on the nation’s finances, emphasizing the need for stringent enforcement measures.
