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Drivers now refuse to carry smuggled
goods.
Aflao, Feb. 7, GNA- Most commercial drivers plying the Aflao-Accra
route are refusing to cart contraband and smuggled goods to
any part of the country, a study carried out by the Ghana
New Agency (GNA) has revealed.
Their refusal to indulge in such activities is due to an
increase in anti-smuggling operations on the roads by the
Police and the Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS),
resulting in interceptions and impounding of vehicles
conveying such goods.
The study was prompted by frustrations expressed by
smugglers and the witnessing of outright shunning of
smugglers by the roadside looking for carriers.
The study conducted between November 2006 to January this
year, within which the GNA boarded 30 'floating' vehicles
from Aflao to Sokpoe, a village beyond the Lower Volta
bridge at Sogakope for observations.
Out of the 30 vehicles covered, 21 of them refused to carry
such goods when they were stopped at various points along
the route by the smugglers who managed to outwit the
security at the main entry points or by underhand methods
get their good into the country.
Mr Atsu Goka, a Driver, told the GNA that some vehicle
owners, mindful of the heavy penalties to be suffered when
caught, have cautioned their drivers against such business.
He said there were other drivers whose special areas of
business was carrying smuggled goods and also vehicle owners
who are smugglers and therefore would continue to indulge in
carting the goods for themselves and other smugglers.
"Some drivers get involved in the night and periodically
during the day after a reconnaissance report of safe
passage' Mr Goka said.
The GNA noticed that the entire Aflao and Denu township
roads, Agbozume, Klikor junction, Dzrakate, a spot ahead of
a police snap check point between Abor and Akatsi were the
main transit points where smugglers drop their goods for
onward carting, after outwitting the CEPS and other security
personnel through the bush.
A spot opposite the District Assembly premises at Akatsi and
others at Akakpokofe, Lakpo, Dabala-Junction are also
converging points of the smugglers.
Sokpoe, in particular and other communities along the Volta
River have been identified as smuggler friendly, where
people make a vocation out of assisting these tax evaders to
ferry goods across the lake.
Records from the CEPS say more than 11 vehicles were
impounded last year for smuggling.
Drivers the GNA spoke to who pleaded anonymity dreaded the
plight of having one's vehicle intercepted with contraband
good and seized.
Some claimed they had to pay illegal fines to security
personnel on the routes to get their vehicles released,
which affects their businesses.
Mr Ben Suuri, a Chief Collector of CEPS, in charge of the
Dabala Check Point who spoke to the GNA said it was good
news that drivers were now refusing complicity in smuggling,
but said CEPS would sustain its anti smuggling patrols.
"I am happy with your findings but we would avoid
complacency until the practice is minimized," he said.
On options opened to CEPS with regards to vehicles caught
carrying smuggled goods, Mr Suuri said carrier penalties
could be calculated on value of goods being conveyed and
slapped on the vehicle owner and the vehicle confiscated
when payment was not effected within a specified period.
He said the Commissioner could also opt for a legal action
to be taken on the vehicle owners.
Mr Suuri hinted that two speedboats had just been allocated
to his outfit and soon patrols on the Volta River would
re-start between Sogakope and Ada to discourage the use of
the river by smugglers.
GNA
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