An importer linked to a large consignment of smuggled Tramadol and unregistered pharmaceuticals intercepted at Tema Port has been given a 30-day statutory window to file a written claim or risk forfeiture of the seized goods to the state.
The notice, issued in accordance with Section 124(6) of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), forms part of an ongoing investigation into what authorities describe as a sophisticated smuggling attempt targeting Ghana’s pharmaceutical market.
The seizure, which was carried out jointly by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), uncovered large quantities of controlled and unregistered medications concealed within a shipping container bearing registration number TRHU3329853 at the Tema Transit Terminal.
Complex Concealment of Tramadol
A detailed inspection of the container revealed 25 cartons of Tramadol 120mg — a highly restricted substance in Ghana due to its potential for abuse and contribution to rising levels of drug dependency, particularly among the youth.
According to enforcement officials, the packaging appeared deliberately designed to evade detection. Each of the 25 cartons contained 60 boxes, with each box holding five packs of 20 tablets — subdivided into 10 packets per strip, each containing five tablets.
“This level of compartmentalization suggests a deliberate attempt to bypass regulatory scrutiny and mask the true nature of the cargo,” an official source familiar with the operation stated.
The seizure was formally documented under Seizure Notice No. 0001632, issued on June 9, 2025, by Richard Apoh Incoom, a seizing officer from GRA’s Anti-Racketeering Unit.
The enforcement action was carried out under Section 95(10) and Section 37 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), as well as the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891).
In addition to the Tramadol, a wide range of unregistered and potentially counterfeit pharmaceuticals were also seized. The detained items included:
75 cartons of Amodioquine Hydrochloride Tablets
41 cartons of MEDIK 55
150 cartons of DAVIGRA 150
42 cartons of Royal Chest & Lungs
15 cartons disguised as “Milk Candy Royal”, which were found to contain large volumes of Paracetamol BP 500mg
The investigation remains ongoing as enforcement agencies work to identify the broader network behind the smuggling attempt.
