Police intercept truck with 150 bags of ‘smuggled’ cocoa beans
The Ghana Police Service has intercepted a truck carrying over 150 bags of cocoa beans in Gulumpe, a town along the Kintampo-Buipe highway in the Bono East Region.
The truck, with registration number 3166D303, was reportedly en route from Circle, Accra, to Burkina Faso.
The driver and his assistant were arrested in connection with the incident.
Police sources revealed that the interception occurred after the driver stopped in Gulumpe to rest.
Residents, alerted by the distinct aroma of cocoa, informed the authorities.
During questioning, the suspects admitted that an unidentified individual had hired them to transport the cocoa beans to Burkina Faso.
Staff from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) visited the police station following the incident.
However, both the police and COCOBOD officials have declined to provide details to the media.
The truck and its cargo remain in police custody as investigations into the matter continue.
The suspects include one driver and two driver-mates of three heavy-duty trucks that were intercepted carrying 1,473 maxi bags of cocoa beans concealed under lumber.
The suspects are currently on bail and assisting with investigations, while two other drivers implicated in the crime remain at large.
The Anti-Smuggling Task Force of COCOBOD intercepted the trucks, with registration numbers GR 7237-21, GR-314-24, and AS 5278-23, at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District.