Ghana Customs officials at the Takoradi Port have intercepted a major consignment of suspected illicit drugs (opioid) concealed in two 40-foot containers, following an intelligence-led operation at the Atlantic Terminal Services Limited terminal.
The containers had been falsely declared as carrying ceiling fans.
The interception began during routine checks, when frontline officers noticed irregular packaging patterns and immediately escalated the issue to their superiors.
Sector Commander for Takoradi, Walter Blankson, subsequently ordered that the containers be placed under strict surveillance to prevent tampering. They were later unstuffed for a comprehensive examination.
The inspection was conducted with the support of officers from the Narcotics Control Commission, National Security, the National Intelligence Bureau, the Food and Drugs Authority, and the declarant, Maxwell Boateng.
Officers uncovered an estimated 25 million tablets of suspected illicit Tapentadol and Timaking drugs hidden among cartons of ceiling fans, along with thousands of undeclared electrical appliances.
The tablets have been seized, with samples taken by the Customs Chemist for laboratory analysis, while the remaining items have been transferred to the State Warehouse in Takoradi to support ongoing investigations.
Customs officials say the seizure underscores the vigilance of frontline officers and the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in protecting Ghana’s borders from illicit trade and the public health dangers associated with such substances.
The declarant is currently in the custody of the Narcotics Control Commission and is assisting investigators in tracing the owners of the intercepted containers.
