The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Edudzi Tamakloe, has issued a strong warning against the illegal smuggling of fuel through unapproved channels.

He cautioned that the practice poses a serious threat to the regulation of petroleum product quality in the country.

Mr Tamakloe made the remarks during a visit to the Western Naval Command, where he supervised the destruction of eight boats seized in connection with fuel-smuggling activities. The vessels were intercepted carrying a combined total of 5,800 litres of fuel.

Speaking to the media, the NPA chief executive said the Authority remains committed to ensuring that only quality petroleum products reach consumers across the country.

He noted that the NPA is intensifying efforts to prevent adulterated and unregulated fuel products from entering the market.

"This one is intelligence led, they don't operate in the day, they operate in the very by this time manner, but thankfully because we're working together with this security agency, they have the skill set to lead this operation with intelligence and that is where we are.

"The next one, I don't want to disclosed that is to know the people who are buying this problem but we don't want to put that in public," he said.

According to him, the illegal transportation of petroleum products through unauthorised sea routes makes it difficult for the Authority to properly monitor and verify fuel quality, thereby exposing the public to possible health and safety risks.

Mr Tamakloe further explained that the NPA operates a product-marking scheme designed to track every litre of petroleum product entering the Ghanaian market.

He stressed that the Authority will not allow any fuel products to bypass the regulatory system and reach consumers through illegal channels.

He concluded by urging individuals involved in fuel smuggling to cease the practice immediately, describing the destruction of the seized boats as a clear indication of the NPA’s determination to clamp down on the illegal trade.