Military intercept 231 bags of smuggled cocoa at Asutsuare
Some military personnel have intercepted large volumes of smuggled cocoa beans at Asutsuare Bridge in the Eastern region.
This follows a tip-off at about 9:00 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
The 231 bags of cocoa beans were being transported in a Benz Ateco truck with registration number GW 4873-22, driven by Issah Baba and Joseph Aha as the mate.
The information gathered indicates that the cocoa beans were concealed under animal feed from Asuboi near Suhum and destined for Togo via Asutsuare and Adidome.
Three others identified as De-Graft Otto Mote, Soga Godwin and Inspector Adam Mahama, who were escorting the cocoa-laden truck with a Mazda pickup vehicle with registration number GW 3556-S, have also been arrested.
All five suspects and the cocoa beans have been handed over to the Akosombo Divisional Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to COCOBOD, the operation took place over a month of sustained intelligence-led efforts.
The truck, which was confirmed to be carrying 504 bags of cocoa beans hidden in poultry feed products, was seized.
Another 130 bags of cocoa beans concealed under gravel in a tipper truck were confiscated on May 7 in Mpraeso, Kwahu South Municipality.
The suspects were trailed from Suhum to Kwahu Adawso, where they were intercepted trying to cross the Afram River by ferry.
They were attempting to exit to the Volta Region towards Togo.