Clearing Agents before court.

Two shipping clearing agents charged with evasion of customs duty of over 23 million cedis have appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra.

Kwabena Antwi, 34, and Ben Srem-Sai 44, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded in police custody until September nine. James Kyei and Charles, alias Blackie, who were together charged with the same offence, are on the run.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Edward Dunyoh told the tribunal chaired by Mr Charles Nyawolema that on August 17, this year, the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the Customs Service mounted an operation at Tema Harbour.

Inspector Dunyoh said the exercise was aimed at clamping down on clearing agents who evade customs duties through the smuggling of goods.

The prosecution said on that day, the SOU intercepted a Leyland cargo truck carrying 210 imported ceiling fans, cleared through the normal process, which was on its way out from the port.

He said Antwi, who was on the truck, produced CEPS documents including a bill of entry and a payment computer receipt, but these were found to be fictitious.

The prosecution added that Antwi, together with the truck and the goods, were detained. According to the prosecution, Srem-Sai was initially engaged to clear the goods, but he allegedly engaged Kyei and another clearing agent called Charles, who are accomplices in the case but are on the run.