Police impound uncustomed rice

One thousand eight hundred (1,800) uncustomed mini bags of rice were impounded by the police in the Brong Ahafo Region between Hweidiem and Acherensua yesterday.

The driver of the vehicle, Abdulai Mohammed, 38, together with the DAF cargo truck containing the rice with registration number AS 7453-11, have been handed over to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in Sunyani for further investigations.

Briefing BUISNESS GUIDE on the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the Brong Ahafo Region, ASP Christopher Tawiah, said his men at Kenyasi in the Asutifi South District intercepted the cargo truck with the bags of rice on Hwiediem –Acherensua–Kumasi Highway on 13th July at about 7am being driven by Abdulai Mohammed towards Kumasi.

When the police demanded documents covering the items, the driver was unable to provide them.

The driver, after further questioning, explained that he was only called to drive the car to a destination without him knowing whom it belonged to.

He was subsequently arrested and sent to Kenyasi Police Station and later transferred to B/A Police Headquarters.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that there were no documents covering the rice which are believed to have been smuggled into the country.

The driver, vehicle and the rice were handed over to the Customs Division for further checks.

The owner of the items is yet to be identified, and Abdulai Mohammed is currently helping the Customs Division to locate the owner.