The Mercedes Benz saloon car impounded by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at Sumbrungu

Car with fake diplomatic plate impounded at Sumbrungu

Vincent Amenuveve Nov - 30 - 2017 , 08:13 2 minutes read

The Upper East Regional branch of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has impounded a Mercedes Benz S 320 saloon car with a fake diplomatic plate at Sumbrungu on the Bolgatanga-Navrongo highway.

The car with a phony registration number, CD 1749-17GH, was intercepted by some Customs officials on patrol duties at Sumbrungu. It is said to be travelling from Paga towards Tamale.

The chasis number of the car is WDB 2200651AO24568 with a bill of entry number 82017460059. Duty on the car is estimated at GH¢65,898.57.

The car has since been sent to the Zuarungu Preventive Station within the Bolgatanga Municipality pending further investigations.

Brief

The Bolgatanga Collection Sector Commander of the GRA Customs Division, Mr Francis Tanlongo, who made this known to the Daily Graphic at Bolgatanga last Wednesday, stated that, "the vehicle left the Ghana side of the Paga border on November 20,2017 on transit to Burkina Faso with the registration number, DP 6846G, only to return to Ghana through the Paga border the following day, with a fake diplomatic number plate."

According to Mr Tanlongo, the car was stopped at Sumbrungu by customs officials upon intelligence reports.

Sensing danger, the driver abandoned the car and sped off, leaving three elderly women behind.

When they were interrogated, the women claimed the driver only offered them a lift at the Paga border en route to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Syndicate

The commander further stated that the company that allegedly cleared the vehicle at the Tema Port was being investigated while a manhunt has been launched for the driver who escaped.

He also entreated the public to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the driver and the syndicate operating along the Tema-Kumasi-Bolgatanga-Paga route, stressing that, "the Commissioner-General will reward handsomely people who volunteer information to help arrest smugglers and those who evade customs duties."

Task force

Meanwhile the Customs Division has formed a Vehicle Task Force to help arrest people who bring in uncustomed vehicles using fake documents.The Task force is operating with support from the Military, the Ghana Police Service and the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA).