The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has seized and destroyed 500 boxes of cigarettes smuggled into the country.
The cigarettes, valued at GH¢10,000, were unaccustomed and did not have any health warnings on them. They were seized in parts of the Brong Ahafo and the Ashanti regions and were destroyed at the Kaase dumping site in Kumasi.
The destruction was witnessed by officials from the security agencies and the media.
A large earth-moving machine crushed the boxes till they were all destroyed and later buried beneath the rubbish.
Briefing the media, the Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service in the Ashanti Region, Mr Kwesi Ahiakpor, said tobacco products imported into the country by the tobacco marketing companies were specifically marked as designated for the Ghanaian market.
He said they were also embossed with health warnings and other identification for the education of the consumer.
Effects
He explained that tobacco was a high duty product and the state was deprived of large amounts if they were smuggled into the country.
He added that aside from depriving the state of needed resources, smuggled cigarettes also affected the sales of law abiding companies that imported specified and wholesome products and paid taxes on them because the smuggled ones were sold at cheaper prices.
He cautioned consumers to be wary of smuggled products and report the sellers to the authorities because the wholesomeness of such smuggled goods was always doubtful.
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