Likpe-Koforidua, Nov 3, GNA - The Likpe-Koforidua Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce at the weekend seized 26 half bags of wet cocoa beans being transported by suspected smugglers to Togo.

The seizure happened after the Mazda mini bus carrying the cocoa got stuck in mud while its occupants tried to flee from the Taskforce.

Mr Anthony Nyabiase spokesman for the Taskforce, who briefed the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) said "destiny gave up the smugglers" who fled into the bush. He said the cocoa had been taken into safe custody but unidentified people had driven away the minibus at dawn even though its ignition key was being kept by the Taskforce.

Mr Nyabiase said members of the Taskforce would discharge their task diligently but needed support of a joint Military and Police team to be able to prevent the main season cocoa from being smuggled out of the country. Mr Anthony Shelley Darkey, Hohoe Divisional Police Crime officer, confirmed the

incident and indicated that investigations were underway to arrest those involved. Mr Prosper Zegblah, Volta Regional Manager of the Produce Buying Agency, said 500

bags of cocoa valued at GHC 69,000 were impounded at Likpe-Koforidua between June and

October this year. He said despite occasional arrests of cocoa smugglers at Ahamansu, Kpedze, Leklebi,

Menusu and Logba-Vuinta large quantities of the produce cross into Togo on regular basis. Mr Zagblah said as a result the quantity of cocoa produced in the region decreased from

36,000 bags in 2000 to 13,000 bags in 2008, despite the free mass spraying of cocoa farms in

the region. He called for a joint military and police taskforce to help deal with the massive

smuggling of cocoa out of the region. Mr Zegblah commended the Taskforce from Likpe-Koforidua for their intervention and

appealed to others to emulate them. 03 Nov 09