The Volta North Regional Police in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board in Hohoe have intercepted a truck with Registration number GR 4558-11, full of suspected smuggled Cocoa beans at the Golokuati Barrier in the Hohoe Municipality.
The truck which contained 150 bags of waste Cocoa beans( Abinchi) was been transported from Accra to Nkwanta.
According to the boss of the Ghana Cocoa Board in the Hohoe Municipality, Mr. Wisdom Delali , they acted on a tip-off to intercept the truck since Cocoa smuggling in the Hohoe Municipality has been on the rise.
Upon Sampling, by the quality control unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board, it turned out to be waste ("Abinchi") Cocoa beans however, they didn't have any permits.
Mr Delali stated that, The Ghana Cocoa board is the sole body in charge of the sale of Cocoa beans and no individual is allowed to transport or sell cocoa beans, be it the good ones or the waste( Abinchi) without the authorization of the Board.
"We Cocoa Board deal with registered members who deal in Waste products(Abinchi) but the people we have arrested are not registered and do not have any authorization or documents for the consignment," he added.
Mr Delali explained that they collaborate with the Ghana Police service to arrest people who transport these products because some people hide the real beans and decorate it with the waste products(Abinchi) to outwit the system.
He, therefore, cautioned the general public to desist from any attempt to smuggle Cocoa as they are on the alert to foil all attempts.