The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, has stated that 12 trucks loaded with cooking oil and spaghetti intercepted by Customs will be confiscated as investigations continue.
The Customs Division of the GRA on February 19, 2026, intercepted 12 articulated trucks carrying 44,055 packages of undeclared edible cooking oil, tomato paste, and spaghetti in a major overnight operation along the Dawhenya–Tema road.
The exercise was led by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, with support from the Chief Revenue Officer for Preventive at the Tema Collection, the Revenue Mobilisation Taskforce of National Security, and enforcement teams from both the Tema Collection and Customs Headquarters.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, April 13, Mr. Sarpong said the matter is under investigation, adding that the decision has been taken to confiscate the goods if wrongdoing is confirmed.
“One of the decisions we took in this matter is that we’re going to confiscate. Confiscation is higher than the payment of taxes. Once we find it culpable, we will confiscate. We’re following due process, and whether our staff or the importers, we will apply the full rigours of the law to deal with the matter,” he warned.
He further noted that officials involved in the incident have so far been interdicted as investigations continue.
According to Customs officials, the trucks formed part of a convoy of 18 vehicles that had been electronically cleared and declared as transit goods from Akanu, destined for Niger through Kulungugu. However, they were allegedly operating without the required Customs human escort, in breach of transit regulations.
The consignments are estimated to represent potential revenue loss of GH¢85.3 million, with an initial assessment of GH¢2.62 million.
Of the intercepted vehicles, 11 were escorted to the GPHA Transit Terminal and placed under Customs supervision with support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), while one truck developed a mechanical fault and its cargo is being transferred to another vehicle.
