The North East Regional Police Command has arrested four people after intercepting 118 bags of cocoa beans allegedly being transported to Togo through the Bunkpurugu border.

According to the Ghana Police Service on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the cocoa beans, weighing 11,800 kilogrammes, were intercepted on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Bunkpurugu.

The police statement disclosed that it received intel that a Hyundai Rhino truck with registration number AS-3272-25 was transporting plantain and cocoa under suspicious circumstances towards the Togo border.

Subsequently, a patrol team intercepted the truck at the Bunkpurugu Police Snap Check Point and arrested the four suspects.

“The interception occurred on 9th August 2026 after Police received information that a Hyundai Rhino truck with registration number AS-3272-25, loaded with plantain and cocoa, was being transported under suspicious circumstances towards the Togo border. Acting on the information, a Police patrol team intercepted the truck at the Bunkpurugu Police Snap Check Point and arrested the four suspects,” the statement read.

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Additionally, the Police said a joint security team comprising the Police, Ghana Immigration Service, Defence Intelligence, GRA Customs Division and National Security searched the truck at the Customs Office and discovered the cocoa beans.

The cocoa, according to the Police, had been concealed under the plantains, which were allegedly being used as a decoy to avoid suspicion.

“The search revealed that the plantain was being used as a decoy to conceal the cocoa beans,” police added.

The suspects have been identified as Dickson Asante, 35, the driver of the truck; Gideon Tab, 19, the mate; Mohammed Mumin, 22; and Ernestina Akugre, 23, who claimed ownership of the consignment.

Meanwhile, the suspects are currently in Police custody assisting with investigations and will be arraigned before court.



MAG/VPO

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