Ghana Customs officials at Takoradi Port have intercepted an estimated 25 million suspected illicit tablets concealed in two 40-foot containers, in a major intelligence-led operation at the Atlantic Terminal Services Limited terminal.
Frontline officers detected unusual packaging patterns during routine checks, prompting an immediate alert to management. Acting swiftly, Sector Commander for Takoradi, Walter Blankson, ordered the containers to be placed under tight surveillance. The containers were later fully unstuffed to reveal the hidden cargo.
The operation involved representatives from the Narcotics Control Commission, National Security, the National Intelligence Bureau, the Food and Drugs Authority, and the declarant, Maxwell Boateng.
Officials discovered the tablets—suspected to be Tapentadol and Timaking—hidden among cartons of ceiling fans, along with thousands of undeclared electrical appliances. Samples have been taken for laboratory analysis by the Customs Chemist, while the remaining goods are being held at the State Warehouse in Takoradi pending further investigations.
Customs authorities said the operation highlights the critical role of vigilant frontline officers and inter-agency collaboration in protecting Ghana’s borders from illicit trade and mitigating related public health risks.
