The Ghana Revenue Authority has busted about GH¢3.6 million worth of evaded products at two key entry points of the country, which were under-declared and misclassified.

This followed attempts by the owners to divert the products that were meant for Burkina Faso through Ghana as transit goods.

The operation, which was carried out last week, resulted in the arrest of the drivers transporting items including rice, sugar, textile materials, cooking oil and other products that were under-declared and misclassified in order to avoid paying the necessary taxes to the state.

Speaking to journalists, Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, warned that the Customs Division of the GRA is on high alert to arrest more business owners found culpable in such activities.

“Smuggling kills businesses, takes away job opportunities for our people and denies the state the necessary revenue for national development. If you smuggle and we arrest you, we’ll confiscate the goods, and you’ll lose the capital to the state,” he said.

He further added that, “Our appeal to businesses is to avoid smuggling and save your businesses. Let us remember to know our taxes, to pay our taxes and to build Ghana together.”

In this respect, the GRA will continue to arrest individuals involved in smuggling activities, protect the border against unauthorised movements and actively identify and close multiple illegal entry points used for evading duty payments.

A similar operation carried out by the team uncovered some 4.6 million Ghana cedis for the state last month after arrests and confiscation.