Police Bust Cocoa Smuggling Attempt in Bunkpurugu; 4 Arrested With 118 Bags

The North East Regional Police have arrested four people and seized 118 bags of cocoa beans worth 11,800 kilogrammes that were allegedly being smuggled to Togo.

In a Facebook update on *Tuesday, August 11*, the Police said the operation was carried out on *Sunday, August 9* following a tip-off about a Hyundai Rhino truck, with registration *AS-3272-25*, transporting plantain and cocoa under suspicious circumstances toward the Bunkpurugu border.

Acting on the intelligence, a police patrol team intercepted the truck at the Bunkpurugu Police Snap Check Point and detained the occupants.

A joint search was later conducted at the Customs Office with officers from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Defence Intelligence, GRA Customs Division and National Security.

According to Police, the plantain on the truck was used as a cover to hide the cocoa.

The cocoa was packed in 118 bags weighing a total of *11,800kg* and was stopped before it could be moved across the border into Togo.

The suspects in custody are:

- *Dickson Asante, 35* – driver of the truck

- *Gideon Tab, 19* – driver’s mate

- *Mohammed Mumin, 22*

- *Ernestina Akugre, 23* – who claims ownership of the consignment

All four are currently assisting with investigations and will be arraigned to face charges, Police said.