A driver was detained by the Ghana police for trying to smuggle a significant amount of cocoa beans into the neighboring country of Togo.
35-year-old Keta native Abraham Senyaglo was arrested on Saturday night while operating a Toyota Hiace van that belonged to the Anlo Traditional Council.
26 bags of cocoa beans were crammed into the car and skillfully wrapped in fertilizer sacks to keep them hidden.
Witnesses claim that at approximately 10pm on the Adomi-Atimpoku stretch, Senyaglo disobeyed a police checkpoint, sparking the start of the police pursuit.
A high-speed pursuit ensued, culminating in his eventual arrest near the Adomi Bridge in the Eastern Region. Mr. Senyaglo asserted during interrogation that he was not aware the cocoa beans were obtained illegally.
He said that as part of his 25th-anniversary celebrations, he had been sent to the Manhyia Palace to deliver items to the Asantehene. On his way back from Suhum to Dzodze, a friend had asked him to deliver the cocoa beans.
Senyaglo’s account, according to the police, is disputed because they claim he was fully aware of the cargo’s illegality.
The suspect and the seized goods are currently in the custody of the Sogakope Police, pending further investigations and prosecution.
The Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce has been tirelessly trying to break up the illegal cocoa supply chain for years, and their successful bust is evidence of their commitment and diligence in this nation.
Nonetheless, the Anlo Traditional Council has not yet released an official statement regarding the matter. In addition to trying to find the source of the beans, the police are also trying to track down other smugglers.
