By A joint task force led by the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) has confiscated three Man Diesel cargo trucks carrying smuggled cooking oil at the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout in Accra.
Dr. Paul Amaning, the head of the task force, disclosed to the media that National Security operatives received intelligence regarding the smuggling of vegetable oil into the country from Togo.
The intercepted oil was smuggled through unauthorized routes to avoid paying taxes and import duties.
Dr. Amaning stressed that the smuggling activities constitute a substantial loss to criminal syndicates attempting to circumvent legal procedures.
He elucidated that the task force’s objective is to guarantee that locally produced cooking oils are available in the market, thereby bolstering the economy and generating employment within the value chain.
Moreover, he cautioned the public, especially market women, against smuggling vegetable oil through land borders into the country.
The task force, in collaboration with personnel from the Customs Preventive Division, escorted the three trucks to the Airport branch for an official examination.
The owners of the confiscated cooking oil have been requested to furnish all required documentation for a comprehensive review by the Ghana Revenue Authority—Customs Division.
The joint task force is composed of members from the TCDA, the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG), the Ghana Revenue Authority—Customs Division, and National Security.
