The trucks, with registration numbers AS 5278-23, GR 7247-21 and GR 314-24, were suspected to be transporting the cocoa beans through Nkrankwanta to Togo or Burkina Faso.

The Administrator of COCOBOD in the Bono Regional capital, Sunyani, Michael P. K. Asumanu, told journalists that the task force acted on a tip-off to intercept the trucks at Dormaa Ahenkro and Nkrankwanta and handed them over to the police in Sunyani, for further action.

He explained that the task force laid surveillance for about three days before intercepting the trucks.

"After we offloaded the commodity, we realised that the cocoa beans were not packaged in the normal 64 kilogramme (kg) cocoa sacks but in maxi bags, which may be more than 80 kg.

"So, if we repackage the 1,473 maxi bags of cocoa beans into the normal 64 kg, we will get more than 2,000 bags of cocoa beans, which is a huge sum of money the country would have lost," he said.

Trick police intelligence 

To outwit the police intelligence, the suspects allegedly packed the bags of cocoa beans in the middle of the trucks and covered them with lumber.

Additionally, they spread some quantities of camphor on the bags of cocoa beans packed in the trucks to repel the natural smell of the beans to cover up their operations.

The police, staff of the COCOBOD and Forestry Commission jointly supervised the offloading of the intercepted items at the Bono Regional Office of the commission.

After that, the commodity and trucks were later sent to the Bono Regional Police Headquarters for investigation.

Escape arrest

Mr Asumanu said two of the drivers escaped at Dormaa Ahenkro after deceiving the task force that they were going to a mosque to pray.

He, however, said one of the drivers and two of their mates were arrested and had been granted a police enquiry bail.

Mr Asumanu explained that nobody had come to claim ownership of the confiscated commodity.

He said the suspects said they were not aware that cocoa beans had been packed in the trucks.

Mr Asumanu said the incidence of cocoa smuggling was alarming, explaining that the situation was gradually destroying the cocoa industry.

"Already, we have galamsey, the old cocoa trees and cocoa disease issues, and we are trying to rehabilitate the farmers. In the midst of this, smuggling is going on," he said.

Economy

Mr Asumanu said the high incidence of cocoa smuggling affected the country's economy.

"Cocoa is the backbone of the country's economy and anybody who tries to smuggle cocoa outside is a country wrecker," he said.

"So, if you see something, say something. Don't keep quiet, because we all benefit from it," Mr Asumanu said.

He also called for the review of the sentencing regime of persons involved in cocoa smuggling.

"The minimum of five years is not deterrent enough. We should consider years that will deter people from indulging in the act," Mr Asumanu argued.