The National Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force has impounded 400 bags of cocoa at Adowso in the Kwawu South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
With assistance from the Formed Police Unit, they arrested 12 suspects who offered a bribe of GHS80,000.
They intercepted two trucks, registered AS 2653-12 and GS 4220-12, loaded with about 400 bags of cocoa intended for smuggling to Togo via the Afram River.
Those arrested include drivers, mates, boat operators, and loading boys from Jemeni in the Volta Region, who came with a large boat to transport the goods.
The National Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force, comprising personnel from the Ministry of National Security and Ghana Cocoa Board, conducted an intelligence-led operation.
This is the third time such an arrest has been made at Adowso in the Kwawu South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
Cocoa smuggling activities have become rife in the corridors of the Eastern Region.
In the past four weeks, the Krobo Odumase Circuit Court has sentenced two persons to a total of 14 years in prison in separate incidents of attempted smuggling of cocoa beans to neighbouring Togo.
The Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force swiftly took action at dawn on May 7, arresting two persons for attempting to smuggle 130 bags of cocoa beans concealed under quarry stones.
The suspects, Dennis Hodo, a driver and his mate, Kwesi Edem, were accosted at the River Crossing point near Adowso in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region by the task force at about 04:45hrs with the consignments, which were hidden in a fully-loaded tipper-truck with registration number GE 6486-23.
According to the Head of the Anti-Smuggling Task Force, Lawyer Charles Amenyaglo, the contraband, packed in branded plastic sacks, originated from the Suhum District and was destined for Togo via the Adowso, Ekye Amanfrom, Tease, Donkorkrom, Agordeke, and Kpando Torkor routes.