Over 500,000 Tramadol Pills Seized at Tema Port in Major Crackdown

Tema, Ghana – June 20, 2025 – In a major breakthrough against the illegal importation of controlled substances, Ghanaian authorities have intercepted a consignment containing over 500,000 Tramadol pills at the Tema Port. The seizure is part of an intensified nationwide crackdown on pharmaceutical smuggling and drug abuse.

???? Inside the Operation

The seizure was made at the Golden Jubilee Terminal on June 9, 2025, during a coordinated inspection by officials from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), National Security, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

The intercepted 40-foot container with registration number TRHU3329853 held 25 cartons of Tramadol 120mg tablets. Each carton contained 60 boxes, each with five strips of 20 tablets—totaling over 500,000 pills.

Officials also uncovered a range of other unregistered and suspicious pharmaceutical products, including:

• Amodiaquine tablets

• Davigra 150

• Medik 55

• Royal Chest & Lungs tonic

• Paracetamol repackaged as "Milk Candy Royal"

⚠️ National Health Concerns

Tramadol is a highly addictive opioid and is classified as a controlled drug in Ghana due to its widespread misuse, particularly among youth and informal laborers. Abuse of Tramadol is linked to serious health issues including addiction, respiratory failure, and, in severe cases, death.

Authorities believe the pills were meant for illegal distribution across the country, further fueling Ghana’s rising drug dependency crisis.

???? Legal Framework & Enforcement

The seizure was executed in accordance with:

• Section 95(10) and Section 37 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915)

• Sections of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891)

The importers have 30 days to comply with legal obligations or the items will be permanently confiscated and destroyed.

????️ Government Response

Ghana’s Ministry of Health and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana have praised the operation and called for stricter inspection protocols at ports, warning that Ghana risks becoming a transshipment point for illegal drugs if enforcement is not sustained.

“This seizure should be a wake-up call,” a senior official at NACOC stated. “We will continue to collaborate with all security and port authorities to cut off the supply chain of illicit pharmaceuticals.”

✅ Summary

This latest bust is one of the largest in recent years and underlines the growing sophistication of drug smuggling networks. Authorities have vowed to intensify surveillance and deepen intelligence-sharing to dismantle such operations and safeguard public health.