Police Arrest Cocoa Smugglers At Bawku

The Ghana Police Service on Wednesday 9th October 2024 arrested some cocoa smugglers at Bawku in the East Region.

The Police were in the process of handing the suspects and the cocoa beans to the COCOBOD when a misunderstanding ensued between them and other security agencies at the security check-in Bawku.

Below are details of a Police statement on the matter

SECURITY AGENCIES RESOLVE MISUNDERSTANDING AT MISSIGA CHECKPOINT AT BAWKU

1. On 9th October 2024, a misunderstanding ensued among personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Police Service, over an intercepted consignment of smuggled cocoa bags, at the Missiga security checkpoint at Bawku in the Upper East Region.

2. We wish to state that the Ghana Police Service yesterday, 9th October 2024, intercepted the smuggled consignment based on intelligence and were in the process of escorting the truck to the Bawku Divisional Police Command for the consignment to be handed over to COCOBOD and the culprits investigated and prosecuted by the Police in line with established protocol with Ghana COCOBOD.

3. For the record, the Police recently intercepted smuggled cocoa beans on two occasions within the region, and the intercepted consignments were handed over to COCOBOD, while the suspects are currently being prosecuted by the Police. It is, therefore, untrue that the Police were in any way facilitating the smuggled consignments, as being claimed.

4. In the aftermath of the incident, the leadership of the three state security institutions promptly intervened to resolve the matter at the national level to sustain harmony and restore cooperation among the agencies involved.

5. Meanwhile, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) under the chairmanship of the Upper East Regional Minister, is also meeting the personnel and their leaders at the regional level to complement the efforts made at the national level.


King Edward Ambrose Washman/