Smuggled cocoa beans have been intercepted in the Volta Region by police
Police in the Volta Region have intercepted a fuel tanker loaded with cocoa beans, in what authorities suspect is part of a larger smuggling operation targeting Ghana’s eastern border with Togo.
The operation occurred on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in the Peki enclave, following a tip-off.
The vehicle, which was believed to be transporting petrol, was instead found to be concealing a large quantity of cocoa beans.
The tanker, bearing registration number GN 3801-13, was reportedly traveling from Madina in Accra to Jasikan, with its final destination suspected to be Togo, according to initial police investigations.
A police spokesperson, speaking to Graphic Online in Ho on Saturday, May 17, 2025, confirmed that the vehicle had been impounded. The driver, whose identity is being withheld, has been granted bail and is assisting with ongoing investigations.
“The intercepted cocoa beans have been handed over to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for proper handling,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the owner of the tanker, who is currently on the run.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about cross-border smuggling of critical national commodities such as cocoa, and the security risks posed by using legitimate-looking transport vehicles to conceal illicit trade.
Security agencies have pledged to intensify surveillance and border patrols to clamp down on smuggling activities and protect Ghana’s vital export resources.
SP/MA
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