Authorities at the Tema Port have intercepted a large consignment of smuggled Tramadol and other unregistered pharmaceutical products, marking a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb illicit drug imports into Ghana.
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and other national enforcement agencies, led the operation that uncovered the smuggling attempt.
The seized items were found in a shipping container with registration number TRHU3329853. A thorough inspection revealed 25 cartons of Tramadol 120mg, a highly regulated substance due to its high potential for abuse.
According to officials, the packaging method appeared deliberately deceptive to evade detection. Each of the 25 cartons contained 60 boxes, each box housing five packs of 20 tablets further subdivided into 10 packets per strip, and five tablets per packet.
Authorities believe this intricate packaging was designed to bypass regulatory scrutiny. The seizure was formally recorded under notice No. 0001632, issued on June 9, 2025, by Richard Apoh Incoom, a seizing officer from GRA’s Anti-Racketeering Unit.
The operation was carried out under Section 95(10) and Section 37 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), and the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891).
Other unregistered pharmaceuticals detained 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
Health authorities have expressed concerns about the growing smuggling of high-potency medications such as Tramadol, which has been linked to increasing cases of drug dependency among Ghanaian youth.
The FDA also suspects that many of the seized products may be counterfeit, posing serious risks to public health.
Under Section 124(6) of the Customs Act, the importer has been given a 30-day statutory window from the date of seizure to file a written claim. Failure to do so will result in the goods being forfeited to the state for disposal under the directives of the Commissioner-General.
