Six arrested in connection with illegal arms importation into Ghana

The Marine Police Unit in Tema have picked up six people in connection with an alleged attempt to illegally import arms and ammunition into the country from Turkey.

The 436 pistols and 26 packs of ammunition consisting of 50 pieces each in a pack were found to have been concealed in personal effects made up of clothing, shoes and bags among other items in a 20-footer container with a declaration number 40920230853.

On Saturday, October 10, an agent with Crystal Shipping who had attempted clearing the consignment at the Tema Port on Friday October 9, 2020 however led the police to arrest five others said to be owners of the various parcels that were consolidated into the container.

Sources at the Port told Graphic Online that the arms were detected during a physical examination exercise on the container at the Terminal Three facility by officials of the Tema Command of Customs who then informed the Marine Police Unit and other security agencies at the port.

The Commander of the Marine Police Unit, Mr Joseph Antwi-Ababio confirmed the incident to Graphic Online but said, further investigations were being carried out to ascertain the purpose for the importation.

GRA

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Ammishadai Owusu-Amoah who also corroborated the arrest said the guns and the ammunitions were being kept at the armoury of GRA to allow for investigations.

He said that the six people in custody were identified as the owners of some of the parcels in the container.

“For now, I can’t say whether the importers had the necessary licences permitting them to undertake the importation of the arms since our officers at the port did not find any documentation covering the gun imports,” Mr Owusu-Amoah said.

He added that the importers and agent for the items also failed to list the pistols and ammunitions on the import declaration form that had the other items listed on it.