GRA intercepts GHS 7.95m illicit tobacco products in cross-border crackdown
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted a significant cache of illicit tobacco products, valued at GHS7,951,238.39. These products, unlawfully routed through unapproved border channels, have prompted a resolute response from the GRA to maintain the nation’s regulatory standards.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, the GRA revealed that the street value of the seized products reached GHS7,951,238.39. Strikingly, none of the confiscated brands met the standard requirements mandated by Ghanaian laws, lacking crucial elements such as graphic health warnings, the mandatory “For Sale in Ghana” inscription, and Ghana Tax Stamps.
The illicit tobacco brands apprehended, including Oris Double Apple, Business Royals, Gold Seal, Bon, Yes, and Business Kings, underscore the GRA’s commitment to staunchly combat the smuggling, importation, and sale of unauthorized tobacco products infiltrating Ghanaian markets.
The GRA emphasized that all the confiscated products were illicitly introduced into Ghanaian territory, in direct contravention of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), and the Tobacco Control Regulations (TCR), 2016 (L.I. 2247).
Ongoing investigations, as declared by the GRA, aim to identify and apprehend individuals accountable for this illicit trade. The Authority pledged close collaboration with relevant government agencies to ensure the swift arrest, prosecution, and imposition of appropriate sanctions on those involved. In adherence to established protocols, all seized products will be subject to destruction as part of the legal process.
Urging public cooperation, the GRA called upon individuals to report any information pertaining to warehouses or illicit storage locations used for hoarding unauthorized tobacco products. This development reinforces the GRA’s dedication to upholding regulatory standards and fortifying Ghana’s fiscal defenses against illicit trade.
