A joint task force has intercepted three cargo trucks containing smuggled cooking oil at the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout in the Greater Accra region.
The task force includes members from the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG), the Ghana Revenue Authority—Customs Division, and National Security.
The team leader, Dr. Paul Amaning, addressing the media on the incident, said the National Security operatives received intelligence about the vegetable oil being smuggled into the country from Togo.
He indicated that the seized products were brought into the country through unapproved routes to evade taxes and import duties as required by law.
Dr. Amaning emphasized that the mission of the task force is to ensure that locally manufactured cooking oils are sold in the market to boost the economy and create jobs within the value chain.
He seized the opportunity to caution the public, particularly market women, to desist from smuggling vegetable oil into the country.
The three trucks have since been transported to the Airport branch of the GRA for an official examination by the task force.
Meanwhile, the owners of the seized cooking oil have been asked to provide all necessary documentation for a thorough review by the Ghana Revenue Authority—Customs Division.
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.