Customs Intercepts Opioids worth GH₵20m at Tema Port Bound for Niger
Tema, Ghana - 17 March, 2025 - In a daring operation, Ghanaian authorities have intercepted a staggering GH₵20 million worth of opioids at the Tema Port, striking a significant blow to the lucrative trafficking trade that has plagued the West African region.
The massive haul, destined for Niger, included a cocktail of highly addictive opioids, sparking concerns over the devastating impact of these substances on communities across the continent.
This was made possible through the efforts of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in collaboration with other stakeholders.
According to authorities, the shipment was part of a larger effort to smuggle opioids through Ghana's ports.
However, the government has vowed to prevent Ghana from being used as a transit point for opioid trafficking. Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh emphasized the government's commitment to curbing opioid trafficking, stating that "Ghana will not serve as a safe haven for opioids".
“Inasmuch as we are interested in facilitating trade in this country, we will not allow Ghana to be a safe haven for opioids. And let me tell you that the president is personally interested in this matter. On my way here, he called me twice, and it tells you how important and critical this particular issue is,” he told journalists at the port.
The seized shipment included Rahol Tapentadol 250 mg – 26 cartons; Tafradol Tapentadol 120 mg – 160 cartons; Timaking Tapentadol 120 mg – 40 cartons; Loperamide 2 mg – 190 cartons; Chlorpheniramine Maleate – 320 cartons.
On March 1, a Fellow in Public Health at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Dr. Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, called on the Customs Division of the GRA to provide answers on how illegal opioids entered the country.
Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews, Dr. Asiedu described the situation as alarming, following the BBC exposé on the influx of dangerous opioids.
Dr. Asiedu has sounded the alarm on Ghana's opioid crisis, citing a recent BBC exposé that revealed a surge in dangerous opioids entering the country.
The seizure of GH₵20 million worth of opioids at Tema Port, destined for Niger, has confirmed Dr. Asiedu's worst fears - that Ghana's ports are being used as a transit point for illicit drugs.
Dr. Asiedu emphasized that the Food and Drugs Authority's (FDA) seizure of the drugs indicates a clear lapse in security at Ghana's ports. He noted that it was the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) that intercepted the drugs, acting on intelligence ¹. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of collaboration between agencies responsible for securing Ghana's drug supply chain.
Moreover, Dr. Asiedu stressed that Customs must be held accountable for allowing these drugs to enter the country. As the custodians of Ghana's entry points, including Tema, Takoradi, and Kotoka International Airport, Customs has a critical role to play in preventing the influx of illicit drugs.
“The products being seized by the FDA means they got through our ports. It was NACOC that had intel which led to the seizure. So that is complete confirmation that these drugs are entering through our ports, and that is scary,” he stated.
“If these containers got out of our ports without the knowledge of NACOC and the FDA, it means there is some level of complicity from Customs because the drugs did not go through the right channel,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
