The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has confiscated 45 jerrycans of petrol that were being illicitly transported into Togo through an unauthorized route at Pillar 12, during a routine patrol led by Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Richmond Wuntah Awuni, although no individuals were apprehended.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Immigration Michael Amoako-Atta, the seizure of the petrol is a result of intensified border security measures, following a directive from the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, to increase surveillance and patrols at the borders to counter terrorist threats and transnational crimes.
According to him, the patrol team discovered the jerrycans of fuel abandoned and concealed in an unfinished building, apparently awaiting nighttime transportation out of the area.
He expressed appreciation for the team’s vigilance and commitment, which led to the achievement of a successful operation.
Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Amoako-Atta announced that the seized fuel has been transferred to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for further handling.
Additionally, the patrol team will maintain its vigilance in the area to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attempted smuggling.
ACI Amoako-Atta also warned residents living near the border to refrain from permitting their properties to be exploited by individuals engaging in activities that could compromise national security.
The smuggling of fuel has posed a significant challenge to Ghana’s petroleum downstream supply chain, affecting both distributors and consumers in terms of costs and demand.
To address this issue, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has joined forces with state security agencies to intensify efforts to combat fuel smuggling in border towns, particularly in the Upper East and Volta regions, through regular raids on known smuggling hotspots to curb the illicit activity.