Aflao CEPS arrests pre-mix fuel being smuggled to Togo

Aflao (V/R), May 2, GNA - The Aflao Collection of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) early Saturday arrested a fuel smuggling ring operating around Denu in the Ketu South district and seized at least 2,000 litres of pre-mix fuel.

It is believed that the fuel, concealed in 29 thick polythene bags stuffed into a sack, was being smuggled to Togo. Mr Isaac Desmond Abbey, Chief Collector at the Aflao border, said about 0500 hours, CEPS personnel on patrol at Denu, became suspicious of a sudden turnaround of a bus near the Police station and gave it a chase.

He said the driver ignored all warnings to stop and instead, took a turn off the main road into a rugged road leading to the Denu market. Mr Abbey said as his men approached, occupants of the bus with registration number GR 9406 S, started jumping off and dashing away, heightening suspicion. He said the CEPS team caught up with the vehicle and escorted it to their offices for inspection.

Mr Abbey said midway to the Customs offices, the driver of the bus stopped suddenly and jumped off the vehicle and escaped. He said at a first glance, the bus could have been taken as containing sack loads of foodstuffs from the way the packaging was done. Mr Abbey said a Felix Humali, a Klikor-based driver, claimed he gave the keys of the bus out to his spare driver called Dodzi with the instruction to take it to the mechanic only to hear that the vehicle had been intercepted.

Mr Abbey said CEPS was on the "war path against smugglers" and therefore warned people around the borders to desist from the act. Pre-mix fuel sold to fishermen in Ghana at concessionary prices is said to be on high demand by motorbike operators in Togo.