Thirty-seven bags of cocoa beans, suspected to be part of an illegal smuggling operation, have been confiscated by the police in a private residence at Walewale in the North East Region.
The operation, led by the West Mamprusi Police Command, follows intelligence that the beans were destined for transportation to neighboring countries.
The cocoa beans, believed to have been transported from southern Ghana, were intercepted as part of a crackdown on a suspected syndicate involved in the illicit cross-border movement of the country’s prized commodity.
According to police sources, the bags were intended to be smuggled outside of Ghana, potentially depriving the nation of vital cocoa exports and violating trade regulations.
Acting on the tip-off, the police raided the private residence on Sunday, November 17, 2024, and confiscated the cocoa beans.
Graphic Online understands that a suspect, who was at the private residence initially obstructed the police by denying them access to the room where the cocoa beans were being stored.
The officers, however, forced their way into the premises and successfully confiscated the goods, Graphic Online gathered.
Police sources have told Graphic Online that the suspect has remained uncooperative, refusing to disclose critical details, including how the goods were transported to Walewale and the intended smuggling route.
The seized goods are now in police custody as investigations continue.
The incident comes on the back of recent reports of smuggling of cocoa beans from Ghana to neighbouring countries.
