Eighty-one (81) bags of adulterated cocoa beans, which were recently intercepted by the Cocoa Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Police Service in the Jomoro District, have been released to the Cocoa Marketing Company Ghana Limited. The release was ordered by a Half Assini Magistrate court presided over by Mr Henz Kofi Poku on Monday, March 7, 2011. Inspector Kenneth Cudjoe told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday that, the court ordered the release of the cocoa beans following an application filed by the Marketing Company for re-conditioning of the beans. He said the company argued that, since cocoa were perishable goods, their continued custody could lead to their total deterioration hence the court granted the release. The prosecution said the smugglers were still in custody and would re-appear on March 14, 2011. It would be recalled that, on February 16, this year, a cargo vehicle was arrested carrying cocoa beans suspected to be smuggled from Cote d'Ivoire and was intercepted on the Tikobo-Elenea road. It was detected that the cocoa beans had been adulterated after the Quality Control Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board conducted test on them. He said further investigation by the Police also revealed that the cocoa beans were smuggled into the country from la Cote d'Ivoire. Source: GNA