The government has expressed concern at the increase in the rate of fuel smuggled across Ghana’s borders to neighbouring countries in the month of January 2013. As a result, it inaugurated an Anti-Fuel Smuggling exercise to be carried out by security agencies, which has resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of fuel smuggled in jerry cans and petrol tankers. The special operation, is being carried out in border towns in the Volta, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Western Regions, aims to prevent the smuggling of fuel into neighbouring countries such as La Cote D’Ivoire, Republic of Togo and Burkina Faso. A statement by Information Minister Mahama Ayariga said, “operators of fuel filling stations in towns close to the borders are being closely monitored by the Anti-Fuel Smuggling operation.” The statement urged the public to “assist the security agencies with information regarding such smuggling activities.”