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General News of Thursday, May 30, 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-05-30
Some documents which were enroute to the Tema Regional Police Headquarters were stopped
The Counter-Intelligence Unit of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted five-footer containers loaded with rosewood that is meant for export through the Tema Port.
A surveillance and intelligence team at the Afienya Axle Load Station, where it was intercepted, which was on its way from Dambai to Tema.
When the Daily Graphic was visited the scene last Tuesday afternoon, there was near confrontation between members of the GRA Special Operations Team and officials of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) over who was in charge of the operation.
While officials of the Tema Office of EOCO are under the jurisdiction of the Tema Regional Police Headquarters, members of the Counter Intelligence Unit of the Customs Division of the GRA, who have been badisted by the United States of America to the United States of America under the supervision of the Forestry Commission (KIA). FC).
In the aftermath of confusion, an official of the FC, Mr Ben Onuma, arrived on the scene and asked for the permits and licenses covering the consignment, but the drivers of the containers failed to produce documentation on the consignment.
As a result, Mr Onuma instructed the pilots to proceed to the FC offices at Achimota, but the members of the Counter-intelligence Unit have declined to be considered by the Customs Office for the Examination.
Earlier in the day, officials at the Afienya Axle Load Station of the Ghana Highway Authority had two GT 3226 -11 and GT 7859-14, which were transporting the rosewood because they had exceeded the allowable load limit.
delicate
The Head of Security at the Afienya Axle Load Station, Ex-Warrant Officer Musah Atimbilla, explained that for the law, recalcitrant drivers have been paid a fine amount of GHS5,500 and also shed off the excess load at the point of arrest.
He said when the trucks arrived at the station, the officials realized that they were overloaded. When the drivers were questioned, they reported that they were carrying large quantities of rosewood lumber.
Meanwhile, the felling and conveyance of rosewood has been banned in the country.
Mr Atimbilla added to his instructions from his boss, Col Opoku of the National Security, the trucks were impounded and officials of the FC called to inspect the wood.
"When the said officials arrived, I had to release the trucks, we agreed that the fines would be paid on a later date," he said.
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