Following the discovery of substances suspected to be cocaine by a scanning machine at the Takoradi Port, which was installed and is being operated by a private Ghanaian firm, Nick TC Scan, a sister company of Ghana Link Services Limited, the combined determination of the security agencies to combat the transit of illicit drugs especially at ports in the country paid off last weekend.
The substance was concealed underneath ladies’ bags, packed alongside ladies’ shoes in a 20-footer container imported from Panama. In fact, it was expertly sewn underneath the bags to appear as though it was part of the bag as a whole, but the perpetrators were not smart enough to outwit the lens of the scanning machine.
Immediately, the scanner indicated ‘abnormal’, which meant it had detected something unusual, officials of Ghana Revenue Authority(customs division), Narcotics Control Board(NACOB), the National Security were alerted after which the container was opened for a thorough inspection together with officials of Nick TC Scan.
The substance was found during the inspection after officials ripped the base of the bags opened. NACOB officials took samples of the substance for testing and it was confirmed to be cocaine.
A combined team of NACOB, National Security and GRA officials arrested the importer, Charles Boasiako, at his residence in Accra with the help of the agent who was to clear the goods. The suspect, who is said to be the owner of warehouses around the Spintex road, is currently in the grips of the National Security.
It was worth noting that the importer only declared mixed used shoes as the contents of the container without mentioning the bags. The container as well as its contents has since been impounded by the security agencies.
It will be recalled that just last year, the scanning machine at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, which is also owned and operated by Nick TC Scan prevented the smuggling of 397 slabs of compressed leaves suspected to be indian hemp. The scanner detected the substances which were concealed in 12 sacks loaded with white singlets and T-shirts, during a routine screening of goods at the Aviance Cargo Village at the airport.
Nick TC Scan has installed and operates scanning machines at Tema port, Takoradi Port, Kotoka International Airport as well as the Aflao port. NickTC Scan provides the best services in scanning, to facilitate the clearing of goods at the port, augment clearing procedure and to intercept the trafficking of banned goods or the import and export of restricted goods, banned drugs, narcotics, ammunitions, unaccustomed goods and more importantly, to help customs in the area of revenue and the determination of under declared and less quality goods.