A police inspector and four other suspects are in the grips of the Akosombo Divisional Police Command following their involvement in the attempted smuggling of 231 bags of dried cocoa beans to Togo.

The team of military personnel who were on duty around the bridge on the Akuse Dam on Wednesday arrested the suspects, which included one inspector, Adam Mahama, who was acting as an escort to the truck carrying the contraband en route to Togo.

The identities of the other four suspects, who are currently being processed for court upon further investigations, have been given as De-Graft Otto Mote, Soga Godwin, Baba Issah, a driver, and his mate, Joseph Aha.

According to information, the military personnel, whilst on duty around 9 pm on Wednesday, intercepted two vehicles: a Benz Ateco Truck with registration number GW 4873-22, which was carrying the 231 bags of dried cocoa beans concealed under animal feed, and a Mazda Pickup with registration number GW 3556-S, said to be acting as an escort to the cocoa-laden truck.

They were said to have loaded the consignments from Asuboi, near Suhum, and were transporting them to Togo via Asutsuare and Adidome.

Upon interrogations and subsequent admission, the suspects were handed over, together with the seized cocoa beans, to the Akosombo Divisional Police for further investigations and possible prosecution on charges of purchase of cocoa without authority contrary to S4 of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (PNDCL81), attempting to smuggle cocoa beans contrary to S317(i) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and attempting to export cocoa beans that have not been inspected, graded, and sealed by an inspector of cocoa, contrary to S3 of the Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968 (NLCD278).

The COCOBOD has in recent times intensified its crackdown on the illicit activities of the cocoa smuggling syndicates, who are said to be depriving the country of several millions of Ghana cedis from the proceeds of the sale of cocoa beans.

Over the last four weeks, five people have been sentenced to a total of 19 years of imprisonment with hard labour for their various roles in an attempt to smuggle dried cocoa beans to Togo.