A 38-year-old electrician has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 10 bags of dried cocoa beans to neighbouring Togo.
Personnel of the COCOBOD’s Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force apprehended the suspect, Kingsley Kotto, along with Eric Kwabena Darko, a driver, aged 41, at Maame Wata—a community near Juapong—while attempting to smuggle the bags of cocoa beans out of the country.
During a routine inspection on Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force flagged down a sprinter bus with the license number AS-4175-23 along the Atimpoku-Hohoe Highway.
According to the facts, the bus, which was transporting agro chemicals from Kumasi to Hohoe, raised suspicions among the task force personnel.
The team conducted a search on the vehicle, where 10 bags of dried cocoa beans hidden in rubber bags were found.
Furthermore, the personnel later arrested the driver, Eric Kwabena Darko. He was sent to the Akosombo Police Station, where the case was formally reported.
Moreover, during the process of interrogation, Kwabena Darko acknowledged in his caution statement that Kingsley Kotto was the one who hired him to carry the beans from Nsutam in the Eastern Region to Togo for smuggling into the Republic of Togo. Each bag cost GH¢100.00.
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With this knowledge in hand, the Police went to arrest Kingsley Kotto, who, in his caution statement, acknowledged obtaining the contrabands from a friend in Koforidua and acknowledged owning them.
Investigations further revealed that the 10 bags of cocoa beans were not inspected, graded and sealed by any recognised cocoa inspector, which is a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana.
Cocoa smuggling and Criminal Offences Act
The attempt to smuggle cocoa beans, contrary to Section 317(i) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and Attempting to export cocoa beans that have not been inspected, graded and sealed by an Inspector of cocoa, contrary to Section 3 of Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968 (NLCD278).
The suspect, Kingsley Kotto, was therefore charged with offences of Purchase of Cocoa without authority, contrary to Section 4 of Ghana Cocoa Board Act 1968 (NLCD 278).
He was found guilty on his own plea and sentenced to seven years in prison by the court.
Meanwhile, further investigation revealed Eric Kwabena Darko, the driver accused of aiding and abetting, did not conspire with Kotto to smuggle the beans. He was cleared of all charges.
