Customs officers at the Golden Jubilee Terminal of the Tema Port have intercepted an assault rifle, two pistols and 610 rounds of ammunition being smuggled into Ghana as personal effects.
The firearms and ammunition, concealed among personal effects arriving from the United States, were uncovered during an intensified examination of goods entering the country.
Deputy Commissioner in charge of Communications and Public Affairs at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Florence Asante, disclosed this at a press briefing on Monday, September 29, 2026.
She said the discovery was made at about 5:15 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, when two Customs officers conducting routine inspection subjected the consignment to further examination.
According to her, the firearms, ammunition and other related accessories had not been declared to Customs and were being brought in as personal effects.
She said the seized items have since been handed over to the Police for further action.
Ms Asante said the interception forms part of intensified examination and scanning of goods at the country’s ports of entry and exit to prevent illegal importation of prohibited and restricted items.
She said the development underscores the importance of importers complying with laws governing restricted and prohibited goods, and urged persons importing such items to obtain the appropriate licences and permits and make full and accurate declarations.
“Make sure that you have a licence to import those items and make sure you declare them correctly so that you will not fall foul of the law,” she said.
She cautioned importers who accept goods on behalf of others to establish exactly what they are bringing into the country, stressing that ignorance of the contents of a consignment would not shield them from breaches of the law.
Ms Asante said the country’s customs regime classified arms and ammunition as restricted goods, requiring a permit from the Ministry of the Interior for their importation, as provided under the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1972 (NRCD 9), as amended.
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