CEPS arrests two, saves nation of losing revenue

Tema, May 20, (Ms Yeboah) GNA -- The vigilance of customs officials at Tema has saved the nation from losing over 60 million cedis in duties on goods which were about to be cleared with fictitious documents at the Tema harbour.

Two men, Archibald Say, 27 and Kwadwo Appiah, 32 who used fictitious clearance documents to clear a 20-footer container of household goods have been arrested and placed in custody.

The two who claimed they were only "errand boys" for Mr Francis Mills, agent of Acveg Shipping and Trading Limited.

Mr Kofi Danquah, Assistant Commissioner of Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) told newsmen at Tema on Thursday. He said his office received a call from an Officer that two men attempted using fictitious document, which had the features and characteristics of CEPS declarations forms to clear a 20 footer container of goods at the harbour.

The container was to be cleared by the Acveg Shipping/Trading Limited care of box 170 Teshie/Nungua as the address of the importers. Mr Danquah said the document bore customs declaration number and when it was checked on the system it was found out that it had already been used by "Fair Shipping Agency" on Thursday, May eight to clear a consignment of lanterns.

It was also detected that a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) waybill number was issued on May 19 to cover the goods while a Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) receipt and a Final Classification and Valuation Report also were found to be fictitious.

He gave the assurance that the CEPS is wild awake to clamp down on criminals who would want to adopt dubious means to deprive the nation of revenue.