Four officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Customs Division are among 10 people currently being held as investigations continue into recent narcotics trafficking cases linked to Ghana.
President John Dramani Mahama received the update on Thursday, September 17, when he met security chiefs to review investigations into the trafficking of drugs through Ghana’s ports.
According to the Presidency, the President was briefed on the ongoing investigations and the security systems in place at the country’s entry and exit points.
“The President was informed that ten (10) individuals, including four officers of the Customs Division of the GRA are being held while investigations continue.”
The Presidency did not disclose the identities of the four Customs officers or the specific allegations being investigated.
The meeting also reviewed Ghana’s existing security structures and identified additional measures to strengthen efforts against narcotics trafficking.
“The meeting reviewed the structure and security systems in place and recommended new actions,” the statement said.
President Mahama has subsequently directed the formation of an inter-agency task force to develop a roadmap for preventing the movement of narcotic drugs through Ghana’s borders.
“President Mahama directed that an inter-agency task force be formed to present a detailed roadmap, emanating from today’s meeting, on measures to prevent the trafficking of drugs through Ghana’s borders in two weeks.”
The directive comes amid renewed scrutiny of Ghana’s port security following major drug seizures involving consignments linked to the country.
On September 10, French Customs seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at about €225 million, from a container carrying plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. Four Ghanaians linked to the shipment have since been arraigned and remanded.
Ghana has also been investigating the interception in Australia of about 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine allegedly shipped from Ghana.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
