Nine public officers have been arrested after a major drug interception at the Tema Port uncovered one of the largest undeclared Tramadol consignments in recent times.
The arrests follow a seizure by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) involving a container loaded with 299 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets. Authorities say the consignment contained 146,932,000 tablets — in 250mg and 225mg doses — weighing approximately 34,847.2 kilogrammes.
Those arrested include five Customs officers, one officer from the Narcotics Control Commission, one Port Security officer, one Energy Commission officer and one officer from the Standards Authority. All nine have been granted police inquiry bail as investigations continue.
According to Customs officials, the seizure was triggered by intelligence gathered by the Preventive wing of the Customs Division. The container, numbered TGHU6228715 and cleared under Bill of Entry 40226151187, was detained on February 26, 2026, and moved to a Customs-controlled area for further checks.
Originally declared as household goods including water kettles, blenders, pressing irons and energy-saving bulbs, a joint re-examination on March 1 uncovered the concealed pharmaceuticals hidden among the items.
The importer and declarant have since been handed over to the Police to assist in investigations, while the seized drugs remain under Customs control.
