Ghana security forces intercept 118 bags of smuggled cocoa

A multi-agency security task force in Ghana has intercepted 118 bags of cocoa beans, weighing approximately 11,800 kilograms, being smuggled near the Bunkpurugu border. The cocoa was discovered concealed beneath a load of plantains in a Hyundai truck during an operation on August 9, 2026.

The interception was carried out by a joint team including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Defence Intelligence, the National Security/Signal Bureau, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. The operation followed intelligence regarding suspicious movement toward the Togo border.

Four individuals have been arrested: driver Dickson Asante, his mate Gideon Tab, Mohammed Mumin, and Ernestina Akugre, who claimed ownership of the consignment. The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue to determine the circumstances of the attempted cross-border movement.