Smuggling Cocoa smuggling on the increase

Hohoe, Feb 15, GNA - About 1,000 tons of cocoa, equivalent to 16,000 bags of the commodity, was smuggled last year along the eastern frontier with Togo.

Mr. Kwasi Bediako-Addey, the Volta Regional Manager of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) who spoke to the GNA in an interview, blamed laxity of security at the eastern frontier as the cause of smuggling in the area.

He said the withdrawal of the military support patrol team and lack of logistics including means of transport affected effective anti-smuggling operations on the frontier.

Mr Bediako-Addey said information from PBC's field staff and marketing clerks showed that buses and taxis cart cocoa to Togo. "It is not true Togolese agents are buying cocoa at relatively higher prices. While purchasing agents pay 572,000 cedis per 62.5-kilogram bag of cocoa, their counterparts offer 800,000 cedis for 75 kilograms."

He said the price variation was deceptive since the weights were different.

The Regional Manager said the Honuta to Menusu stretch of the eastern frontier was notable for the large smuggling of cocoa, with new emerging areas being Kute, Wli, Old Ayoma and Baika Mr Bediako-Addey said the region had experienced the worst form of cocoa smuggling this purchasing season, which is the period between October and March.

He called for the re-introduction of the military anti-smuggling task force at strategic points along the frontier.