A customs officer has been charged with extorting GH¢2,000 from traveller at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). The accused, 43-year-old Torgbe Agbeti Dordoe, appeared before the Adenta Circuit Court on charges of extortion and pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Angela Attachie, granted him bail set at GH¢10,000 with one surety. The next hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2026. Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo led the prosecution.
According to the facts presented, the complainant, a resident of Airport West, Accra, returned from Dubai on November 28, 2024, carrying two Bose musical instruments. At the arrival terminal, Dordoe assessed customs duty of GH¢21,000, which the complainant paid and received a receipt for.
Later, the complainant explained that the same items had been cleared on a previous trip. Dordoe allegedly demanded an additional GH¢2,000 in cash without providing any receipt. When the complainant asked for verification and an official receipt, the officer reportedly refused.
A formal complaint was lodged at the Airport Police Station. Dordoe was invited for questioning and asked to report on February 17, 2025, due to his duty schedule.
Subsequently, letters were sent to the Customs Division at KIA and the Customs Headquarters requesting confirmation of the incident and the officer’s cooperation, but no response was received. On April 28, 2025, Dordoe was served with a criminal summons to appear in court on May 12, 2025. He was later arrested and formally charged.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to address misconduct and ensure accountability within the customs service.
