Nine public officers drawn from multiple state agencies have been arrested and placed under police inquiry following a major interception of undeclared Tramadol tablets at Tema Port in the Greater Accra Region.
The officers, including five officials from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), one from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), one Port Security officer, one from the Energy Commission, and one from the Ghana Standards Authority, were taken into custody after a massive consignment of the controlled drug was uncovered.
According to a statement issued by the GRA on March 3, 2026, the seizure followed an intelligence-led operation by the Customs Division. The container, numbered TGHU6228715, was originally declared as containing household items such as water kettles, kitchen blenders, pressing irons, energy-saving bulbs, and polypropylene materials.
However, a joint re-examination by Customs officers and the Central Revenue Monitoring Team on March 1, 2026, revealed a much larger and more disturbing concealed cargo. Hidden among the declared goods were 146,932,000 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride in 250mg and 225mg strengths weighing approximately 34.8 metric tonnes.
The container was initially detained on February 26, 2026, following credible intelligence received by the Preventive Unit of the Customs Division.
In the GRA’s view, the arrests underscore the continuing threat of illicit drug smuggling and the potential abuse of public office in the clearance process at Ghana’s principal seaport. The exporter and declarant linked to the shipment have also been handed over to the Ghana Police Service to assist with ongoing investigations.
The seized consignment remains under strict Customs control as investigations continue. Authorities reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national security, protecting public health, and preserving the integrity of Ghana’s border management systems.