By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
The North East Regional Police Command has arrested four persons and intercepted 118 bags of cocoa beans weighing 11,800 kilogrammes at Bunkpurugu.
The police suspect the consignment was being smuggled into neighbouring Togo through the Bunkpurugu border.
The interception took place on August 9, 2026. Police said they received intelligence that a Hyundai Rhino truck with registration number AS-3272-25, loaded with plantain and cocoa, was moving suspiciously towards the Togo border.
Acting on the intelligence, a police patrol team stopped the vehicle at the Bunkpurugu Police snap-check point and arrested all four occupants.
The suspects have been identified as the driver, Dickson Asante, 35; his mate, Gideon Tab, 19; Mohammed Mumin, 22; and Ernestina Akugre, 23, who claimed ownership of the goods.
A joint team comprising personnel from the Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Defence Intelligence, GRA Customs Division and National Security later conducted a search at the Customs Office.
During the search, officers discovered that the plantain was being used to conceal the cocoa beans.
The four suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. They are expected to be arraigned before a court to face the law.
