COCOBOD Clamp Down Smuggling Syndicate
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has intensified the war against illicit activities of cocoa smuggling syndicates with support from the State’s security agencies.
The initiative continues to yield positive results as 38-year-old electrician is sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for attempted smuggling.
This comes just few days after the Krobo Odumase Circuit Court in the Eastern Region sentenced a man to 7 years in prison for attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans from Ghana into neighbouring Togo.
The convict, Kingsley Kotto, a 38-year-old electrician, together with Eric Kwabena Darko, a driver, aged, 41, were arrested at Maame Wata community near Juapong by personnel of the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force whilst attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans to neighbouring Togo.
According to the facts of the case as presented in court by the police, on Thursday, April 25, 2024, personnel of the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force while on routine checks on the Atimpoku-Hohoe Highway stopped a sprinter bus with registration number AS-4175-23 which was loaded with agro chemicals from Kumasi towards Hohoe.
Upon thorough search of the vehicle, 10 bags of dried cocoa beans concealed in rubber bags and sacks were found.
The driver of the vehicle, Eric Kwabena Darko was subsequently arrested and handed over to the Akosombo Police where a formal complaint was lodged.
In the course of interrogation, Kwabena Darko admitted in his caution statement and mentioned Kingsley Kotto as the one who contracted him to transport the beans from Nsutam in the Eastern Region at a charge of GH¢100.00 per bag for onward smuggling into the Republic of Togo.
With the knowledge of this information, the police consequently arrested Kingsley Kotto who also admitted ownership of the contrabands and stated in his caution statement of purchasing the cocoa beans from a friend in Koforidua.
Investigations further proved that the 10 bags of cocoa beans were not inspected, graded and sealed by any recognized cocoa inspector which is a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana.
Kingsley Kotto was therefore, charged with offences of Purchase of Cocoa without authority contrary to Section 4 of Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (PNDCL81), attempting to smuggle cocoa beans contrary to Section 317(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 Section 3 of the Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968 (NLCD278).
He was found guilty on his own plea and sentenced to seven years in prison by the court.
However, the driver, Eric Kwabena Darko, who was charged with aiding and abetting, was later discharged after investigations revealed he did not conspire with Kotto to smuggle the items.
The arrest and prosecution of Kingsley Kotto brings to two, persons sentenced in a week for cocoa smuggling.
On Wednesday, the Court, presided over by His Honour Kwesi Apiatse Abaiddu, sentenced Issifu Nyandi, to seven years in prison after being found guilty for attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans from Ghana to neighbouring Togo.