Officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) last Sunday night impounded 200 maxi bags of cocoa beans on board a heavy-duty truck at Taviefe, close to Ho in the Volta Region heading towards Togo.
The Mercedes Benz truck with registration number, BA 265 V, was reported to have travelled from Kade in the Eastern Region through Accra, Sogakope and Ho before Customs officers apprehended them at Taviefe.
The driver of the vehicle identified as Felix Tetteh, 30, was arrested and handed over to the police in Ho while the truck was impounded.
According to the Daily Graphic, the Director of Special Services of COCOBOD, Charles Amenyaglo, disclosed that the operation followed a tip-off and intelligence gathering.
The Cover-up
He revealed that the perpetrators used fishmeal and covered with wheat bran to sprinkle the cocoa beans to conceal its smell on board.
Mr Amenyaglo further disclosed that preliminary investigations show that the same truck was involved in a cocoa smuggling case in March, this year.
Besides, the Director of Special Services of COCOBOD also said the colour of the truck was changed three times between March and May this year to avoid detection by the security agencies.
Further detailing the notoriety of the truck owners, he said the vehicle, which previously used the Accra-Ho-Hohoe route for cocoa smuggling, now operated through Sogakope to outwit the security agencies.
“We will get to the bottom of the matter as soon as possible and process the driver and all those involved for court,” he added.
Mr. Charles Amenyaglo used the opportunity and appealed to patriotic members of the public to readily volunteer information on the activities of cocoa smugglers in the communities to the security agencies and COCOBOD, in the national interest.
He said the driver of the impounded truck was now on police enquiry bail, assisting in investigations into the matter.
