Tamale (Northern Region) - Personnel of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Tamale have impounded a Mercedes Benz fuel tanker loaded with large quantities of uncustomed goods valued at 420 million cedis.
Items found on the vehicle, with registration number NR11A, include assorted fabrics, foreign brand of cigarettes, towels and panties.
A statement issued by the Service in Tamale on Friday and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmed Kanton, said import duty on the goods amounts to 190 million cedis.
A 300 per cent penalty imposed on smugglers by CEPS brings the total duty and penalty liability of the goods to 800 million cedis.
According to the statement, the owner of the fuel tank is required to pay a penalty of 570 million cedis within a month before the vehicle is released to him.
The owner of the goods is also required to pay the 800 million-cedi penalty within the same period or forfeit them to the state.
The driver and his two mates who were on the vehicle have been arrested and are assisting in investigations.
