Immigration Officers at the Paga Border Post in the Upper East Region have intercepted and arrested a Chinese national and his Ghanaian accomplice, thwarting an attempt to smuggle arms and other contraband into the country.
The suspects, identified as Zhou Quan from China and Awato Kwame from Ghana, were traveling in a Burkina Faso-registered Toyota RAV4 (numbered 0919G203).
Upon reaching the Ghanaian side of the border, the duo attempted to evade Immigration control by speeding off. However, quick action by Inspector Ebenezer Badu and AICO I Charles Taali, who were on duty, resulted in a hot pursuit that led to their interception and arrest.
A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered a cache of illegal items, including two Chinese pump-action guns (Golden Eagle), eleven packs of body armor bags, two jack knives, fifteen electronic gold scales, three phones, a pack of suspected gold ore, GHC147,160.00, CFA51,000.00, and USD330.00.
A press release signed by M. Amoako-Atta, Chief Superintendent and Head of Public Affairs, said the suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation. The statement added that the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi (Esq.), has issued a directive to all Commanders to tighten security measures at the country’s borders and enhance patrols along all unapproved routes to minimize illegal entries and exits.
Additionally, it said the CGI has instructed Commanders to strengthen their community engagement strategies. By collaborating with border community members, the Immigration Service aims to reduce the involvement of locals in illegal crossings and garner their support in combating migration-related crimes. The Ghana Immigration Service emphasizes the importance of compliance with the country’s immigration regulations, especially for foreign nationals. Any breach of these regulations, the statement said, will result in prosecution.
As the agency responsible for protecting Ghana’s borders, the Immigration Service indicated that it remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring the security of the nation.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1MHz | Joshua Asaah | Ghana