40-Foot Container Containing Firearms, Ammunitions Seized At Tema Port, Two Arrested
- The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has seized more than 50 pistols, magazines and ammunition at the Tema Port
- The contraband goods had arrived in three suitcases concealed in a 40-foot container at the port's Golden Jubilee Terminal
- According to Brigadier Ayorrogo, the importers had told the port that the container contained vehicles
- Foreign Policy and Security Analyst Adib Saani, in an interview with YEN.com.gh bemoaned the proliferation of small arms in the country
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The Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division has intercepted 53 pistols (side arms), 74 magazines, 65 pieces of live ammunition and a PC holster at the Tema Port.
The imports were seized at the port's Golden Jubilee Terminal, and the importers (suspects) were arrested and transferred to the Marine and Railway Police Station, Tema, to assist in investigations.
Source: Getty Images
The Commissioner of Customs, Brigadier Zibrim Ayorrogo, told reporters on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, that the items were intercepted on Monday, November 4, in a 40-foot container with identification number MEDU4496951.
The owners of the container had allegedly declared that it contained vehicles and personal effects at the port.
The weapons were reportedly imported from the United States of America.
The Brigadier stated that following the discovery of the weapons in three different suitcases, the customs examination team immediately notified the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Intelligence and Investigations Unit and the Customs Division’s Preventive Unit of the incident.
Personnel from the notified teams arrived at the scene and confirmed the discovery.
The firearms, magazines and live ammunition were seized, and all other items within the container were thoroughly checked and detained for further investigation.
The suspects on site, the agent and the consignee’s representative were arrested and interrogated about the seized items before being transferred to the Marine Police Station.
Adib Saani speaks on proliferation of small arms in Ghana
A foreign policy and security analyst, Adib Saani, in an interview with YEN.com.gh, bemoaned the extent of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
He described the situation as distressing, particularly as the country was just a few weeks away from the 2024 general elections.
"The unfortunate thing is you don't have current statistics that would inform the line of action to take," he said.
"But that notwithstanding, I mean, unconfirmed statistics puts it at very alarming rates. As a matter of fact, the last major statistic we had was the 2014 Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center baseline survey, which depicted over two million illegal guns in Ghana.
"So if 10 years ago it was over two million, you can imagine today how many more weapons would we have in the system," he said.
The CEO of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building noted that the major reason why guns are proliferating is due to the law.
"The law doesn't help keep the situation. The Small Arms Commission is still an advisory body. It's not a regulator. So even if you are acquiring a weapon in Ghana, you don't go through the Small Arms Commission.
"You go through the Interior Ministry and the police. Meanwhile, in line with the Arms Treaty, which Ghana is signatory to, if I would have been appropriate that the Small Arms Commission be made a regulator, the laws on guns we have is the 1960s law, which is a kick."
Meanwhile, he has expressed worry that the proliferation of guns could lead to dire consequences for the country's security, considering the insecurity within the West African region.
"A lot has changed over the period. Because of the conflict situation in North Africa, a lot of these weapons are able to get through the restive Sahel region, fall into the hands of sub-state and non-state actors.
"Then it falls down. It trickles down to sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana used to be a transit point, but Ghana is now a major destination for these weapons. And they come in in troops, fall into the hands of combatants who are fighting in over and land disputes in Ghana.
"Some fall into the hands of criminal inmates like robbers. But the fear is some would fall into the hands of political actors who might use it as, you know, weapons of intimidation and fear and possibly even hurt their political opponents.
"That is why we need to really step up our efforts to dealing with the situation."
Explosives from Nigeria intercepted at the border
Security agencies have impounded a consignment of mining explosives smuggled into the country through the Kpoglo border at Aflao in the Volta Region.
The explosives arrived from Nigeria by road and have reportedly since been secured with a firm in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.
The Chronicle reported that the seizure was made on May 29, 2024, after intelligence was gathered by the security agencies at the Segbe Border Post, about 18 kilometres north of Aflao.
Though the truck was supposed to be carrying home consumption items, during the examination, some quantities of packages suspected to be explosives were found.
Nigeria intercepts smuggled pills at the border
YEN.com.gh reported that Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized 50,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg smuggled from Ghana.
The Tramadol pills were concealed in the body compartments of a bus believed to be heading to Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman commended the officers involved for their vigilance and effectiveness in intercepting the shipment.
Proofread by Samuel Gitonga, Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh
Source: YEN.com.gh
