Police Inspector and Four Suspects Arrested for Attempted Smuggling of Cocoa Beans
A police inspector and four other suspects have been arrested by the Akosombo Divisional Police Command for their involvement in attempting to smuggle 231 bags of dried cocoa beans to neighboring Togo.
The team of military personnel, who were on duty around the Akuse Dam on Wednesday, arrested the suspects, including one Inspector Adam Mahama, who was acting as an escort to the truck carrying the contrabands.
The other four suspects, De-Graft Otto Mote, Soga Godwin, Baba Issah, and Joseph Aha, are currently being processed for court upon further investigations.
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According to information, the military personnel intercepted two vehicles: a Benz Ateco Truck with registration number GW 4873-22, which was carrying the 231 bags of dried cocoa beans concealed under animal feed, and a Mazda Pickup with registration number GW 3556-S, said to be acting as an escort to the cocoa-laden truck.
The vehicles were loaded with the consignments from Asuboi, near Suhum, and were transporting them to Togo via Asutsuare and Adidome.
Upon interrogations and subsequent admission, the suspects were handed over, together with the seized cocoa beans, to the Akosombo Divisional Police for further investigations and possible prosecution on charges of Purchase of Cocoa without authority contrary to S4 of Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984(PNDCL81), attempting to smuggle cocoa beans contrary to S317 (i) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960(Act29), and attempting to export cocoa beans which have not been inspected, graded and sealed by an Inspector of cocoa, contrary to S 3 of Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968(NLCD278).
This is not an isolated incident, as the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has in recent times intensified its crackdown on illegal activities of cocoa smuggling syndicates who are depriving the country of millions of Ghana Cedis from proceeds of the sale of cocoa beans.
Over the last four weeks, five persons have been sentenced to a total of 19 years imprisonment with hard labour for their various roles in attempted smuggling of dried cocoa beans to neighboring Togo.
The COCOBOD has warned that it will continue to take not -tolerate illegal activities in the cocoa sector and will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those involved in such activities are brought to justice.
To conclude, this is a significant blow to the illegal cocoa smuggling syndicates and a major victory for the law enforcement agencies. The Ghanaian public can rest assured that efforts will be made to ensure that those involved in illegal activities are held accountable and brought to justice.
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