- COCOBOD has taken custody of the beans for quality assessment
- The police urged public cooperation and promised confidentiality for informants
- Police are investigating the suspected smuggling syndicate linked to the shipment
The Central Regional Police Command has intercepted a Toyota Coaster bus loaded with 30 bags of cocoa beans believed to be part of a smuggling operation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Adu, Regional Commander, confirmed the seizure to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday, July 25.
According to him, the interception occurred on Monday, July 21, around 4:20 p.m. at the Brimso Police checkpoint. Officers stopped a bus with registration number GR 8247-20 and found the cocoa beans concealed inside.
The driver, Bernard Owusu Agyemang, 42, failed to provide documents for the consignment. He claimed he was instructed by someone named Martin to deliver the beans to a woman in Mankessim, though he only had her phone number and no further details.
DCOP Adu stated that investigations are underway to trace and arrest those behind the suspected smuggling ring.
“We are committed to identifying and bringing the syndicate to justice to deter others from engaging in illegal cocoa trading,” he emphasized.
He also urged the public to share credible information to assist in the fight against cocoa smuggling, assuring that informants’ identities would remain confidential.
The seized cocoa beans have been handed over to the Cape Coast office of COCOBOD for quality checks and further processing. Mr. Maxwell Ntiamoah, Principal Quality Control Officer, officially received the consignment.
