Accra: The Central Region Police Command has intercepted a Toyota Coaster Bus carrying 30 bags of cocoa beans, suspected to be the product of smuggling activities. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DCOP) Kofi Adu, Regional Commander, confirmed this development.
According to Ghana News Agency, on Monday, July 21, officers stationed at the Brimso Police checkpoint stopped the vehicle with registration number GR 8247-20 and discovered the 30 bags of cocoa beans believed to have been unlawfully acquired. The driver, Bernard Owusu Agyemang, aged 42, failed to present any documentation for the cargo and claimed he was instructed by an individual named Martin to deliver them to an unnamed woman in Mankessim, providing only her phone number as a point of contact.
DCOP Adu assured that an investigation would be conducted to identify and apprehend the syndicate responsible for the crime, emphasizing the importance of holding them accountable to deter others from engaging in similar activities. He encouraged the public to provide timely information that could lead to the arrest of individuals involved in such illicit operations, guaranteeing that the identities of informants and whistleblowers would be protected.
Meanwhile, the police have handed over the beans to the Cape Coast office of COCOBOD for the necessary quality assessment and further action. The beans were received by Mr. Maxwell Ntiamoah, the Principal Quality Control Officer.