Police intercept 336 bags of cocoa beans at Dadieso

The Suaman Dadieso District Police command has intercepted 336 bags of cocoa beans being smuggled to neighbouring Ivory Coast for sale.

A Daewoo Kia with the registration number AS 3513-19 loaded with bags of cocoa in jute sacks was intercepted by a police team set up to monitor the activities of smugglers in the Dadieso-Enchi forest reserve.

As part of the efforts to bring cocoa smuggling activity to an end, the Suaman Dadieso District Chief Executive, Philip Kwabena Boahene, formed a task force to monitor the activities of those smugglers.

After some investigations, it was disclosed that the Daewoo Kia was heading towards Ivory Coast to sell the cocoa beans. The task force then led the vehicle to the nearest police station. Subsequently, the driver was arrested and taken to the Dadieso Police Headquarters for further investigations.

The District Chief Executive for Suaman Dadieso, Philip Kwabena Boahene, speaking to the media, said residents in the area are not involved in cocoa smuggling, but residents from neighbouring districts move their smuggled goods through the area to dent the name of Suaman.

He further warned that the security and the task force in the Suaman District are poised to arrest whoever tries to smuggle cocoa.

It is reported that cocoa bean smuggling has been common among some residents in the Suaman Dadieso District over the years.

Consequently, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahene Aidoo, has admonished farmers in the area to desist from such practices and educated them on farm inputs supply and the cocoa rehabilitation programmes with the sole aim of halting smuggling.