Four arrested as Ghanaian authorities dismantle cocoa smuggling ring, seize over 100 bags from Cote D’Ivoire

Four suspects are in custody following a coordinated operation that intercepted more than 100 bags of cocoa beans illegally smuggled from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana, authorities announced Monday.

The operation, carried out by the Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with national security operatives, took place at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District. The truck carrying the contraband cocoa was stopped before it could enter Ghana’s regulated supply chain.

Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa revealed at a news conference in Sunyani that the breakthrough stemmed from intelligence gathered during his “Accounting to the People Series” tour, a grassroots initiative that brought to light grievances from local cocoa farmers.

“The operation led to the interception of a truck loaded with more than 100 bags of cocoa believed to have been smuggled from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana,” Mr. Akwaboa told journalists.

According to the minister, farmers in the area reported that certain Licensed Buying Companies and cocoa clerks, despite receiving financial clearance from the government, had repeatedly failed to purchase their produce. Instead, some buyers were allegedly sourcing cocoa from smugglers along the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire border.

Those complaints triggered a swift investigative response, leading to the arrest of the suspected masterminds behind the smuggling network.

“Investigations led to the arrest of suspects… and they are currently assisting police investigations,” Mr. Akwaboa said, adding that the suspects will face prosecution.

The regional minister also announced that security has been bolstered across known smuggling corridors in the region, with tactical units deployed to dismantle illicit networks undermining Ghana’s cocoa industry.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the cocoa sector — a cornerstone of the national economy — Mr. Akwaboa warned against the politicisation of cocoa purchasing, stating that such practices threaten national economic interests and hurt farmers’ welfare.

He urged the public to avoid turning cocoa procurement into a political issue, stressing that unity is essential for the sector’s integrity.

The four suspects remain in custody as prosecutors prepare charges. COCOBOD has secured the seized cocoa for further forensic and evidentiary processes.