Officers of the Customs Division in the Bono East Region have seized 97 bales of imitation wax prints and 10 brand-new Yamaha Aerox motorbikes that were being smuggled through the Techiman checkpoint aboard a Burkina Faso-registered cargo truck.
The interception occurred on Thursday, November 5, 2026, when Customs officers at the checkpoint stopped a DAF XF cargo truck bearing registration number BF2798G303 for inspection.
A preliminary search revealed textile bales cleverly concealed beneath a layer of dry okro powder and empty glass bottles a tactic apparently intended to deceive officers and evade duty payment.
Following the discovery, the truck was escorted to the Customs Sunyani Regional Office, where a comprehensive examination was conducted.
That full inspection confirmed the scale of the smuggling attempt: 97 bales of imitation wax prints, totalling 58,200 yards of fabric, alongside 10 brand-new, still unpacked 155cc Yamaha Aerox motorbikes.
Customs officials classified the goods as uncustomed — that is, imported without the required duties being paid or the necessary clearance procedures completed.
The estimated duty on the textile consignment stands at GH¢465,186.90. The figure was computed from an FOB value of $52,962, and includes freight, insurance, import duty, VAT and assorted levies and charges.
The seizure has been formalised through Notices of Seizure Nos. 0015388, 0015392, 0015393, 0015394 and 0015395, all issued on November 11, 2026.
The notices invoke provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and declare the goods liable to forfeiture.
The documents connect some of the seized items to named individuals: Sansadogo Mohammed was identified in the notices relating to the motorbikes, while the notice covering the textiles was addressed to “Dabil” and “Perpetual.”
Under the terms of the notices, any person wishing to contest the forfeiture must lodge a written claim within one calendar month. Failing that, the goods will be deemed lawfully forfeited to the State and disposed of in whatever manner the Commissioner directs.
The seized consignment has since been deposited at the state warehouse of the Sunyani Regional Office pending the outcome of the process.
The interception adds to a string of enforcement actions by the Customs Division targeting the concealment and undeclared importation of goods through inland checkpoints, and officials say it demonstrates the Service’s resolve to plug revenue leaks and protect the domestic textile industry from the influx of smuggled imitation prints.