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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has confiscated illicit tobacco products worth GH¢7.95m.
These products were smuggled into the country through unapproved border routes, prompting the GRA to address the issue and maintain the nation’s regulatory standards.
In a statement released on November 21, 2023, the GRA revealed that the street value of the confiscated products amounted to GHS 7,951,238.39.
The statement added that none of the seized brands complied with the standard requirements mandated by the country’s laws.
Again, the products lacked the essential elements such as graphic health warnings, the “For Sale in Ghana” inscription, and Ghana Tax Stamps.
The tobacco brands apprehended included Oris Double Apple, Business Royals, Gold Seal, Bon, Yes, and Business Kings.
“All the confiscated products had been illicitly brought into Ghanaian territory, contravening the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851, and the Tobacco Control Regulations (TCR), 2016 (L.I. 2247),” the GRA stated.
The GRA added that investigations will commence to identify and apprehend individuals responsible for this illicit trade.
The Authority has pledged to closely collaborate with relevant government agencies to ensure the arrest, prosecution, and imposition of appropriate sanctions on those involved.
As part of the legal process, all seized products will be destroyed in adherence to established protocols.
The GRA also urged individuals to report any information regarding warehouses or illicit storage locations used for hoarding unauthorized tobacco products.
Source: myjoyonline
