Aflao Immigration Officers seize jerrycans of fuel

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has intercepted and seized 45 jerrycans of petrol which were being smuggled into Togo.

The exercise was undertaken by a team of officers of the Aflao Sector Command led by Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Richmond Wuntah Awuni who acted on intelligence during routine patrols at Pillar 12, an unapproved route.

No arrests were, however, made.

The Head of Public Affairs of the GIS, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Michael Amoako-Atta, said the interception of the fuel comes on the heels of a recent directive from the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kwame Asuah Takyi, to all border commanders to heighten patrols at the borders as part of efforts to secure the borders in the face of terrorist threats and cross-border crimes.

He said the team on its patrol found the jerrycans of fuel unattended to and hidden in an uncompleted building, readied to be transported out of the area at night.

He commended members of the team for their diligence that led to a successful operation.

ACI Amoako-Atta said the GIS had since handed over the intercepted fuel to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

Also, the patrol team would continue its surveillance in the area to apprehend the persons behind the attempted smuggling.

The Head of Public Affairs of the GIS further cautioned border residents to desist from allowing their facilities to be used by miscreants in activities that could disrupt national security.

Fuel smuggling has been one of the obstacles in the petroleum downstream of the supply chain in Ghana where both bulk distribution companies and consumers suffer in terms of pricing and demands.

A situation that compelled the NPA, in collaboration with the state security agencies, to step up efforts to clamp down on fuel smuggling activities along border towns particularly, in the Upper East and Volta regions.

This has been done through periodic swoops at the smuggling hot spots to stop the menace.