Tema (Greater Accra), 1st June 99 ?

The Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has directed that importers, who have to clear their goods through Saga Ghana Limited, whose operations have been suspended, would be allowed to use other shipping lines to process their documents.

A source from CEPS told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that "other shipping lines would be allowed to assist importers with the processing of documents and clearance of cargo brought in by Saga shipping lines".

The CEPS source said all employees and agents of Saga are temporarily banned from entering CEPS offices and installations.

Workers of Saga, who reported for duty on Monday, were seen standing in groups discussing the suspension, with CEPS officers monitoring closely.

Some of the workers were heard saying that the management of Saga was making efforts to get the Commissioner to review the suspension, as its continuation would affect the company's operations.

CEPS last Friday closed down the offices of Saga, following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine hidden inside a consignment of 390 bags of rice imported into the country.

The Narcotics Control Board (NCB) has certified that the three parcels of the whitish substance, found in the 20-foot container and shipped from Paramaribo, Surinam, is cocaine.

A source at CEPS said Saga is also being investigated concerning the clearing of stolen cars from United States and Canada.

The cars include three Grand Cherokee, one each of Dodge, Ford Chrysler and the latest model of BMW.