The National Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce has apprehended 12 people at Kwahu Adawso in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The suspects allegedly tried to bribe taskforce personnel in an attempt to smuggle out 400 bags of cocoa beans.

Citinewsroom reports that the 12 are believed to be part of a cocoa smuggling syndicate, and the arrest was made based on intelligence received by the taskforce. They are currently in police custody as investigations continue.

A joint taskforce comprising personnel from the Ministry of National Security, the Formed Police Unit, and the Ghana Cocoa Board intercepted two trucks laden with 400 bags of cocoa beans en route to Togo, thwarting a smuggling attempt.

The vehicles, with registration numbers AS 2653-12 and GS 4220-12, were intercepted by the taskforce as they attempted to offload the banned cocoa beans at Kwahu Adawso.

Security Council Chairman Lauds Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce for Arrests Despite Tempting GH¢80,000 Bribe Offer

Chairman of the Kwahu South Municipal Security Council, Emmanuel Atta Ofori Snr., praised the National Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce for maintaining their integrity and arresting 12 suspects despite being offered a substantial bribe of GH¢80,000 (approximately USD 12,000) to turn a blind eye to the smuggling attempt.

“We have arrested 12 people who are currently in police custody and I am keenly interested in the outcome so I will monitor the proceedings to make sure the sanctioned laws of the land are tested. I am therefore appealing to the prosecution and judiciary to swiftly adjudicate issues of national concern like this particular one in order for all necessary sanctions and punishment to be meted out to the culprits when found guilty because they are causing financial loss to the state.

“Last month, we made a similar arrest on the ferry, which was a cargo vehicle. We have arrested a tipper truck too, but today it is a Kia Rhino smuggling cocoa, which is an indication that the smugglers are really in business I want to use this medium to announce to them that the Kwahu South Municipal Security Council will not relent but pursue them anytime they want to transit their smuggled goods through our municipality”.

The Kwahu South Municipal Security Council is stepping up efforts to combat cocoa smuggling, with its latest arrest marking the third in the municipality within a period of two months.

The seized beans were reportedly transported from Suhum through Adawso with the ultimate destination being Dzemeni in the Kwahu Afram Plains enclave, from where they were smuggled into Togo.