The police at Sefwi Adjofua in the Bia West District of the Western North Region have intercepted an articulated truck at Sehwi Adjofua with registration number AS 3984-12, fully loaded with cocoa beans which was allegedly being smuggled to Ivory Coast.
The interception of the 800 bags of cocoa is part of the intervention that has been adopted to curb illegal activities to protect Ghana’s cocoa industry.
The interception occurred early Tuesday morning, June 18, 2024, following a tip-off from the intelligent officers of the Ghana Cocoa Board. The police swiftly mobilised and set up a roadblock on a key route used by smugglers. Upon inspecting the trucks, they discovered a large consignment of cocoa bags.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the cocoa, valued at several millions of Ghana cedis, was intended for illegal export to neighboring Ivory Coast, where it could fetch higher prices due to differing market conditions.
Smuggling of cocoa across the Ghana-Ivory Coast border has been a persistent issue over the years in the Western North region.
Major Rtd Ebenezer Tetteh, an intelligent officer at the Ghana Cocoa Board, Bia West, explained how the alleged smuggler was apprehended. He indicated that it was a tip-off they had and the information was swiftly given to the police to do the arrest.
He further added that the district has been fighting against cocoa smuggling in the area for some years now but to no avail.
This, he indicated, has led to a decline in cocoa production in the area, asking those involved to put a stop to it.
“It is very alarming because since 2023/2024, we have arrested a lot of them and this is the people that we have had information to arrest them. What about the people that we did not have information to arrest? They are gone. So it is very alarming, especially, the Bia East and Bia West,” he stated.
He urged the security at the borders to keep helping them, whilst urging the media to enhance education on the impact of smuggling the beans outside.
“We are urging all our security drivers brothers along the borders to help us. We have educated them that’s why they are helping us now. We are also appealing to you the radio stations to try and educate the people on air for us that when you are caught, the system will deal with you,” he forewarned.
Meanwhile, the suspects involved in the smuggling attempt are currently in custody and assisting with further investigations.
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